LONG-FELT WANTS SUPPLIED.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10400, 13 July 1912, Page 5

LONG-FELT WANTS SUPPLIED.

. ♦ - : - MARTON’S .PROGRESS. Few—if any—towns of its size will be better served than Marton in tbe matter of lighting, water and drainage. A magnificent supply of water has nOw been .procured from tbe upper reaches of the Tutaenui district. Tbe works are practically completed and an official visit for inspection was made on Wednesday by the Mayor (Mr R. E, Beckett) ' and members of the Council, accompanied by Mr Laing-Measou, engineer, Mr Marshall, clerk of works, Mr Wilson, borough foreman Mr Morrison, photographer, a ratepayer, and a representative of the Advocate. Three motor oars conveyed the party and the dam was first visited, all being .impressed with the fine sheet of water. A close inspection was made at the lower end which was found to be perfectly tight-—no leakaga whatever. It is under two years since the possible sources of a water supply were investigated by Mr Laing-Meaaeon, and a supply was finally recommended from tbe Tntaenni Creek about five miles from the town where tbe impounding dam was constructed with a carrying capacity of 41 million gallons, calculated to provide a supply for the population of the town for five months without any aid from rainfall. The dam consists of a long earth embankment with reinforced concrete face. The overflow and valve tower are also of reinforced concrete. From the dam an 8-iaob main carries the water to the filters a distance of one mile. Here the unaltered water is purified and passes into a clean water reservoir constructed of reinforced concrete with carrying capacity of 50 000 gallons. Tbe filtered water is then conducted by au 8-inch pipe to the town, as far as Cnbbabbalia Street; then a six-inch main is carried to , Henderson’s Line, The adoption of snob a large pipe is to make ample provision for possible future extension, Fifteen miles of mains and 2% miles of service have been laid, which practically completes \ the work. The contract has been satisfactorily carried out by Mr O. Bignell ( wanganui) for the Spiral Pipe Company, and Mr G. Marshall has ably filled the position of clerk of works. The demonstration of Bell’s patent filtration process was decidedly interesting Two machines are In operation capable of purifying 240,000 gallons dally. The filters are cleaned out tri-weekly. It is a mechanical process. The water runs in at tbe top of the filter, then passes through a filtering medium about sft. 6in. in depth, and issues pnrified water into the reservoir. The process of cleaning is effected by reversing the flow from downwards to upwards,' the filter medium being agitated by rakes. All tbe dirt thus accumulating on the top of the filtering medium is washed out and escapes through an overflow pipe into a drain. When tbe water is purified by tbe. expulsion of this dirt the flow is again reversed and the filter is put Into action. The agitators are operated by a bb p oil engine. The amount of alumina required has now been correctly adjusted and the demosstratiou given of the water cbming from the filter was highly satisfac-tory-clear, bright aud' sparkling. It Is satisfactory to ' note that the results of purification by the bacteriologies! tests were between 90 and 9S per cent, As to tbe sewerage the work of connections is in foil swing: The main pipes have been laid and , services are now in active operation. The sewerage contract is being carried out by Messrs J. and R. Scott, Dunedin, and despite adverse weather conditions good progress has been made The filtering tests are to be supervised by Mr Shepherd, manager of the cheese factory,,and the Council is fortunate in securing his services.