BOROUGH WATER

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 September 1934, Page 6

BOROUGH WATER

SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPLY.

ENGINEER ’S REPORT.

At the Borough Council meeting last night, the following report was submitted by the borough engineer (Mr C. R. Mabson) in connection with a supplementary water supply for the borough: “With the approach of the summer months again, the time is opportune to consider the question of supplementing the water supply, in order to enable me to maintain a more efficient supply and pressure throughout the town dunng this period. There are several methods by which this may be done, b.ut the one which I am. submitting for your consideration at present is by means of an artesian supply pumped into reticulation mains. “The proposal, if possible and given effect to, would consist of sinking a 6in. bore hole on the gaswmrlcs reserve, Pownall Street, adjacent to the _ gasometer, erecting pump house and installing suitable pumping plant complete with all automatic and manual controls, pressure switches, gauges and meters complete. ‘ ‘ The. supply obtained from this source would be pumped directly into the lOin. main in Pownall Street, and pumps would be controlled to come into operation as soon as the pressure dropped to 501bs. per square inch, and cut out at 801bs. per square inch. ‘ ‘ At the outset I would point out that tho practicability of this proposal cannot be decided without putting down a trial bore to find out if water of a good quality and sufficient quantity is definitely available. Tho next thing to determine is what would be the cost, first, of installation, and second, running costs, and in order to arrive at this it is necessary to assume: (1) _ That water of good quality and quantity is available, (2) depth, say, 200 ft.; (3) that water will rise to the surface or sufficiently near to enable pumps to handle it at ground level; (4). that aeration is unnecessary. The estimated cost would then be as follows: Sinking (Sin. bore to 200 ft., £250; pumping plant, including motor and starting gear and pressure gauge, £250; piping and fittings, £75; 6in. Orivent mctci cind ic corder, £140; pump house, £SO; total cost, £765. . (4 The running cost of this plant would be approximately £32 per month, 8 hours per day, or £4B per month for 12 hours per day. However, an average of 6 to 7 hours per day would, in normal summers, be the longest time pci: day run, allowing for stopping and starting. , .. “The other side of the question is, supposing water is not available at -00 feet or less, what would be the cost of sinking to a greater depth? If the water did not rise sufficiently close to the surface for the typ<? of plant proposed,' either a borehole pump or an air compressor would be required to raise the water to tho surface. In the case of the latter, this would necessitate constructing a small storage reservoir, the capacity of which would be governed by the quantity of water available per hour. “Unlike many other places, we have no artesian wells in Mastcrton from which to glean any information as "to probable depth we would have to go, so that I would recommend obtaining advice from the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research before spending any money on well-boring.” Tho report is to be dealt with by the Works and Finance Committee as soon as the necessary information is available.