HOSPITAL WATER SUPPLY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18585, 20 December 1934, Page 12

HOSPITAL WATER SUPPLY

RAINWATER PROBLEM

TO GO TO WASTE

Problems in connection with the water supply at the hospital were discussed at the meeting of the Cook Hospital Board, yesterday afternoon when a letter was received from the medical officer of health stating that tire water in the storage tanks at the hospital was being contaminated by the billow of rainwater from the roofs of the buildings. After a discussion of the problem it was agreed that there was no' option but to allow the rainwater to go to waste. A report on the present supply system was (submitted by the board s engineer, Air. l>. McNab, as follows ‘•There are three reserve water tanks with a holding capacity of 87,000 gallons. These tanks are kept full during dry weather from the borough supply, tfaa water flowing in during the night. It is then pumped into the tower tank during the day. The rainwater from the various buildings flows into the tanks, and with our catchment area of 46,000 sq. ft. if it were possible to retain all the rain'water it would amount to approximately' 1,250,000 gallons on the "basis' of an average 44in. Owing to the rainfall being heavy at times it 1 is not' possible to catch all the water, as it is desirable to keep the tanks full in case of a break in the P'P U '

fine. - - “lit February, 1932, 12in. of rain fell ill about four days. This is equal to 384,000 gallons on our catchment, and our ; consumption was only about 66,000 gallons. During this period, over 300*000 gallons were passed through the overflow of the taims. In a normal year Vith an average rainfall of 44iu. it -yvouid be possible to use about one half of our catchment. The value would be about £34. I “Tne tanks were cleaned out, but laboratory tests since have shown that the tfrater has not improved. The water was then' chlorinated and further tests are being made. To divert the rainwater,- 120 ft. of 6in. pipe is required. The .cost of this would be £l6 and approximately £9 for labor.’‘ The chairman, Mr. M. T. Trafford, remarked that if the. board were to treat, the rainwater it would involve considerable expense, whereas if the rainwater were allowed to run to waste the extra expense of additional town supply water would be £34. It was resolved, after a brief discussion, that the rainwater should be diverged from the tanks.