TROUBLE AT ARAPUNI

Waipa Post, Volume 45, Issue 3212, 4 August 1932, Page 4

TROUBLE AT ARAPUNI

SEEPAGE DECREASING. REMEDIAL MEASURES IN HANK. (By Telegraph. Press Association.)* ARAPUNI, Wednesday. With the lessened volume of water in the headrace" through a partial opening of the tunnel gates, the size of the seepage at~Arapuni has somewhat decreased. Although nothing definite has been decided, it is not thought that u will be necessary to close the station while remedial measures are taken. The water has ceased going over the spillway, and the level is 4 feet lower than the normal -working one. For the time being the level be held in the vicinity of that which allows the turbines to function in their usual manner and give a continual supply of power. The water which causes the seepage enters the ground just up-stream from the curtain of the work, and, running aloijg the cut-off wall, which, runs inland for 20 feet goes on past the power-house, through the drain* age system constructed when the re- 5 medial steps were taken in 1930. and debouches into the gorge, the water forming a waterfall three feet in width. A shaft to tap the leak has been sunk 14 feet. It is expected that the water will be reached at about 16 feet. Nothing has been established as to whether a break has occurred in the lining of the headrace or whether seepage has at a point along the unlined portion upstream from the cut-off wall. Two divers have examined the floor of the headrace. NOT BELIEVED SERIOUS. MR FURKERT'S STATEMENT. (By Telegraph. Press Association.) WELLINGTON, Wednesday. The engineer in chief of the Public Works Department, Mr Furkert stated to-day that the trouble at Arapuni* was not regarded as serious. He had inspected the plant since the seepagewas first reported some days ago, and on returning to Wellington announced that the engineers considered that once they traced the source of the leak there should be no difficulty in stemming the flow. Within the past 24 hours there had been a decrease of 25 per cent in the discharge. An important consideration was that the water coming through the drainage pipe was clear, which showed there was no erosion of the soil in the area where the seepage was occurring. It was admitted that if the amourit of water increased the effect on the works might be serious. It was apparent, said Mr Furkert, that the seepage was occurring at a point above the lined portion of the head race on the other side of the cut-off wall, under or round which the water was finding its way. A six inch post hole bore had been sunk near the wall and this showed that water was present, lending colour to the opinion that it was finding its * way round the wall and under the impervious lining. The source of leakage had been confined to a space about 12 feet square on the east side. If the seepage was definitely traced to that source its flow might be checked by the dumping of spoil and concrete grouting. It might prove necessary to dewater the head race to rectify the fault, although it could not be said at the moment whether this would be necessary. The probability was that it would not be necessary. As the plant was generating 50..000 kilowatts and earning £SOO a day it could be .understood that it would not be closed down unless this course proved absolutely necessary. AN OMINOUS MESSAGE. i OPERATIONS MAY CEASE TO-NIGHT.

(By Telegraph. Press Association.)

AUCKLAND, this day. The Auckland Electric Power Board has received advice from Arapuni this morning to get its emergency steam plant ready for full operation by this evening.