TOWN WATER SUPPLY

Southland Times, Issue 19434, 24 December 1924, Page 6

TOWN WATER SUPPLY

A MORE EFFICIENT SERVICE REPORT BY THE ENGINEER In his report to the Invercargill Town Council last evening by the Engineer (Mr T. O. Fox) made the following references to the town water supply:— “The supply has been well maintained during the fortnight, reservoirs 1,2, and 3 being practically full for the whole period, and about 250,000 gallons being held in No 5. The cleaning of No 4 is now complete. The pump and shafting in' No 4 well has been re-assembled, carefully lined up and adjusted, and the girders supporting the bearings concreted into the well walls. When this concrete is sufficiently hardened in a few days’ time the pump will be given a trial run. The whole of the air piping from the four air compressors has been remodelled, the compressors now delivering into a common receiving main, from which supplies are led to the various wells. In addition an air reservoir 15ft long and 22in in diameter has ben connected to the main air pipe, which results in a steadier flow of air to the wells, and a consequently more efficient service, as the pulsations of the compressors are not transmitted to the air lifts as was the case when coupled direct to the machines. A safety valve has also been fitted to the air reservoir.” The report was received without discussion* A RECENT HAPPENING. MESSRS MILLAR’S COMPLAINT.* REPORT BY TOWN ENGINEER. At a recent meeting of the Town Council a letter was received from Messrs A. C. Millar’s, Ltd., complaining of the water supply being cut off without notice on a busy Saturday afternoon, and a request was made that the plumbing expenses incurred should be paid by the Council. At last night’s meeting the following report was received from the Town Engineer in regard to the matter:— “On Saturday, November 8, the reserves of water in the reservoirs at the pumping station were practically depleted, and from 10 a.m. until 4.30 p.m.. the town was dependent on the flow from the wells, which was less than the demand owing to the simultaneous failure of two pieces'of the pumping plant. The result was that the pressure of water in the mains fell at about noon from the usual 451bs per square inch to 151bs, but slowly recovered until at 4.30 p.m. it was again normal. The supply was not cut off altogether, and even if it had been it would have been impossible to notify all consumers. Furthermore, consumers who are dependent upon an uninterrupted supply should fix adequate storage cisterns in their premises. Otherwise, in the case of a broken main or other cause beyond the control of the Corporation, they are put to inconvenience and loss. “In this case one boiler in the A.C.M. building is supplied direct from the main contrary to clause 295 of the by-law. The other, and one in the Federal Building, are supplied from small cisterns in the ceilings. These boilers are fitted with safety valves, cannot be emptied by the ordinary taps, and therefore there was no danger of them being damaged. “As A. C. Millar’s, Ltd., have not taken the proper steps to ensure that they are not put to inconvenience through temporary failure of the supply, which no Corporation can avoid at times, and for which they cannot be held liable, I would recommend that the account forwarded by them be not paid.”