PURE WATER

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 32, 30 April 1927, Page 9

PURE WATER

THE LOCAL SUPPLY CHLORINATION RELIABLE BACTERIOLOGISTS ADVICE The sitting of the Auckland Water Supply Commission was continued yesterday, when evidence in regard to modern methods of sterilisation was given by Mr. K. L. Armitage, bacteriologist to the Auckland Hospital, and previously to the Health mentAir. Armitage submitted that it was preferable to draw upon supplies close at hand, even if more-or-less impure, rather than spend money on distant supplies. Extracts from engineering and scientific reports were produced to show the efficacy of modern chlorination methods, Mr. Armitage instancing London's source of supply—the Thames—which he said was many times more contaminated than any source that was ever likely to be drawn upon in New Zealand. In the public mind, said Mr. Armitage, there still lingered the idea that pure water could only be obtained from a pure source, but by proper treatment a contaminated supply might be rendered much purer than one vastly more expensive brought from a distance without purification.

If properly carried out, said Mr. Armitage, chlorination disposed of all harmful bacteria, and the water showed no traces of chlorine. Modern plants, using chlorine gas, were practically fool-proof in operation and needed little care beyond a daily inspection. The plants at Onehunga, One Tree Hill and Papakura, for example, were giving most satisfactory service. The Papakura plant was perhaps the most complete of its kind in the Dominion. The need of a spcially- trained permanent officer to collect rainfall and other data, keep laboratory tests and supervise the operation of water systems, especially purification plants, was urged by Mr. Armitage. Such a man, he said, would do invaluable work which the medical officers of health had no time to carry out.