WATER SHORTAGE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 32, 14 March 1914, Page 5 (Supplement)

WATER SHORTAGE.

HIGH, PRESSURE SHUT OFF.

THE DANGER OF FIRE. To-day Christchureh is short of water. Shortly after 7 o 'clock this morning the authorities received word that there was trouble at Moorhouse Avenue, at the corner of Colombo Street. It was the same trouble, due to the same cause as the leakage there in 1908. The bottom is rotten, and when subsidence takes place the big 15-ineh mains, of 1-inch iron, break practically of their own weight. As on the previous occasion, the break is just behind the flange on the south side of the bend.that spans the brick-covered storm water sewer. After the trouble in 1908 a concrete sump was put in, but it could not stand on the treacherous bottom, and the foreman in charge of the believes that it has sunk also. About the burst there was nothing spectacular, for the leakage was something of the weep rather than anything of the fountain. Percolation took most of it away, letting only a little through to the surface. On information being received the supply was cut off at the reservoir. And Christchureh went "dry." " Up to midday the pressure meter at the Fire Brigade Station stood at zero. It was likely to stand at zero until this afternoon, when repairs of a.temporary nature will allow- of a low pressure being available until Monday, when all should be well again. In the meantime the city is* being supplied from Sydenham, by the 6-inch main on the east side of Colombo street;' but it is alleged that this can only hold for up to 12 hours, as the wells after that will not be able to answer the pumps. The Fire Brigade demonstration set down for this afternoon has been called, off for lack of water. This draws attention to a matter that has made the insurance managers this morning think hard of grave risks. The modern plant is out of action., and the Brigade must rely on its old steamers and the? Denis-Gwynne pump. Even so, they are worse off than they wjre. six months ago, for they have one underground tank the less, that in Cathedral Square having been filled in. Apart altogether from the loss the high pressure and the trouble caused thereby, it seems that they regard it as grave that no more secondary line of defence, in the way of underground tanks,, is provided. There are always compensations. This break has occurred on Saturday, when the factories are closed and the demand is practically at its lowest. The break emphasises the' point re-, cently made in THE SUN, that- steps should be taken to, place the city's water supply on a more secure footing. The one principal main, even with Sydenham as an auxiliary; *is not a sufficient guarantee against an accident, which might develop into a disaster. When well and reservoir extensions are being made the council might very well consider putting in a new. pipe line, one quite independent of the line in Colombo Street. The city should not be dependent on a single main for water supply and fire-fighting purposes.