ARTESIAN WATER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19141, 9 October 1936, Page 4

ARTESIAN WATER

TESTS IN PROGRESS PLOW AND POTABILITY WAIPAOA WORKS BORE Tests of the flow ami potability of water from the principal bore at Waipaoa. from which a supply was formerly drawn for the use of the Waipaoa freezing works were initiated yesterday by the, Gisborne Borough engineer, Mr. E. R. Thomas, in connection with the general scheme to test underground water sources of the district. The tests are considered likely to furnish evidence on which the engineer will be able to base recommendations to the council in respect of the proposals advanced by Mr. J. C. Field. The well which is under" test is the larger of two wells at the Waipaoa works bittT, and is 111 ft. in depth, the bore consisting of a sin. core in a lOin. diameter casing. Between the core and the casing is a pipe running some distance down into the water, and used in the introduction of compressed air for pumping purposes. The compressor with which the experiment was proceeding yesterday and to-day has not enough power to make an exhaustive test of the flow possible, but sufficient, information can be obtained by its use,_ the borough engineer believes, to indicate whether the well taps a substantial and renewing supply. Mr. Thomas proposed] to continue pumping until this evening, and to then determine whether the pumping should proceed further. If the tlow at that time is not diminished, that circumstance will indicate that the test has gone as far as possible with the available plant. If there is a diminution of supply, however, the pumping will continue _ in. order to determine what is the working tlow to be obtained from the well. A sample of the water from the bore is to be taken by a representative of the Health Department to-day. to i>e forwarded for analysis. With information as to the continuity of supply and the potability of'the water, 'the borough engineer should be able to advise the council whether to proceed further with Mr. J. C. Field's suggestions.