BRING THE WATER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 663, 17 January 1933, Page 8

BRING THE WATER.

Sweltering City Seeks to Cool Off. PUMPS WORK AT TOP. During the past four days, Avhile the temperature has been ranging round the higher le\-els, the cry in Christchurch has been for Avater, Avater and more Avater. From Friday until Monday over 19,000,000 gallons of Avater were consumed in the city. On Friday it Avas being used almost as fast as it could be pumped into the mains, and the consumption for the day totalled 5,057,000 gallons. It Avas not until the night watches had been set that the pumps at the pumping stations began to establish a margin against the outdo av. During the day they had been competing against heaA-y odds. Many a man as he rose from his bed on Friday morning decided that conditions justified his staying under the shower a few minutes longer than usual, and in that Avay the day began. As it wore on thirsty throats, parched gardens and more shower baths made a heavy claim on the capacity of the pumping stations, the Avatering of gardens being the factor mainly responsible for the heavy consumption of the supply. On Saturday the consumption was 4,977,000 gallons, on Sunday 4,456,000 gallons, and yesterday 4,600,000 gallons. To-day another heavy strain was placed on the pumps. With all this Avater being consumed it may surprise many residents to know that on one occasion the city was kept supplied for two days on a reser\*e of 40,000 gallons, A few years ago the main reser\’oir de\-eloped a fault that put it out of action. The water tOAver in Sydenham was called on in the emergency to keep the supply going. It Avas pumped full and by this means the city was kept supplied. The tank’s capacity is 40,000 gallons— not a very big supply for a city of 120,000 population, but by keeping the pumps going to keep the rate of inflow abreast of the outflow the situation was met, and not a throat in the. city Avent thirsty.