PLUMBERS BUSY

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23262, 25 July 1945, Page 4

PLUMBERS BUSY

Epidemic Of Burst Pipes Position Serious In The Country The recent snowstorm and the scries of heavy frosts, including the record registration of 17 degrees, have played havoc with waterpipes and taps, storage tanks and other services in Timaru and district. The first sign of trouble came witli the exceptionally heavy snowstorm which set in on July 13, when the spoutings on all buildings became blocked. Then came the frosts, which I turned the snow into ice. and as this I gradually thawed, the water soon found weak spots, much to the annoyance and discomfort of householders. | The position is difficult enough in town, but in the country areas it can be classified as serious. AU the plumbing firms in Timaru have been besieged with calls for more than a week to attend to burst waterpipes, taps and hot water services, and also to repair leaking spoutings and roofs. It has been impossible to remedy all the complaints which have been received, even though the staffs of the various firms ; have been working overtime, but they ; have accomplished a good deal more than they thought they would be able to. and have carried the gratitude of many of the sufferers. The plumbers have not confined their activities to the town, but have endeavoured to assist farmers and others whose plight in many instances has been much worse than any in town. Pleasant Point appears to have been particularly hard hit. and the Education Board has been forced to close the school on account of the failure of the water and sanitary services. Burst pipes and taps are prevalent in the country, and in addition many storage tanks have ended their period of usefulness owing to the water in them freezing. Not a few of these tanks were due to be replaced, but on account of the war it had been found practically impossible to replace them, and the owners had been obliged to carry on and hope for the best. Each hard frost brings further work for the plumbers, the proprietor of one firm stating yesterday that while he thought they had broken the back of the trouble directly attributable to the snowstorm, it would be some time before they could say that they had overcome all the trouble.