THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12475, 27 February 1909, Page 3

THE CITY WATER SUPPLY.

NEW WEIR TURNED ONi . AN INCREASED PRESSURE. BURSTING OF THE MAINS. The City Engineer (Mr W. Aitche-son-Smith) and the City Council staff have been having a busy time during the past few days since the water was turned on from the new. dam, owing to the bursting of the mains through the increased pressure of water. ■ The laying of the new nine inch pipes to the weir was completed on Wednesday, and when the water was turned on two mains burst in Vanguard street and at Beachville, and fire plugs were damaged in Nile, Hardy, Tasman, and Grove streets. Repairs . were effected, but again in the early hours of yesterday morning the pressure caused the eight inch main, opposite the Chinamen's garden in Brook street, to burst, the water washing the road away. Not only was extensive damage done, but the weir dam was practically emptied. There was also a "burst" at Milton street, opposite the Botanical Reserve. The Council staff was busily engaged yesterday effecting repairs. The supply for the city has been drawn from the middle dam for some weeks past and the pressure was from 651bs to VOlbs to the • square inch. ; The pressure recorded from the. weir has reached 1641bs to the square inch, and the City Engineer does not anticipate that it will be less Hhan 1321b5. Speaking in -regard rto the water supply for fire prevention purposes Mr Smith informed a representative of this paper yesterday, that. with the pressure from the weii; ji. jet of water could, in his .opinion be sent over the roof "of- the Trafalgar Hotel, which is one of the tallest buildings in the city, and that it would, take one fireman all his time to hold the nozzle of the hose. In these circumstances the Fire Brigade should experience little difficulty in the future in coping with an ordinary outbreak of lire. Owing to the unexpected emptying of the new. dam the hours for using the hose have been further reduced, but the restriction will be only temporary. Those who ' have water meters come within the above restrictions so far as using water for irrigation purposes ; is concerned. . :.-,-...■