Wellington Water Supply.
The Damage to the Reservoir. (per wire association.) The city councillors paid an official visit to Wainuiomata water works yesterday, and closely examined the race in which the leaks were found. It is understood fresh leaks were discovered and signs of careless workmanship. It is estimated that two million gallons of water have been lost daily for some time past by these leaks.
The city council have decided to cable home at once for the pipes necessary to lead the water from the Karori reservoir at a higher lead. The Mayor proposed that an outside engineering opinion should be obtained on the works at Wainuiomata, and the best method of dealing with the defects, but an amendment was carried to appoint a committee consisting of senior members of each ward to enquire into the state of the works and report.
All the papers condemn in unmeasured terms defects which have been discovered in Wainui water works. It is beyond doubt that half the water supplied by rain never has reached town for months past, besides leaks arising from the defective concrete and engineering. The valve of the sludge channel at the bottom of the dam fits so badly that a large stream runs through it. An attempt was made to plug it up, but without success, and it can only be put right by emptying the reservoir, which is impossible at the present. The most that can be done is to patch up the leaks till the old supply from Karori can be made available for the highest levels of the town. There is a good store of water there which keeps the place going for a considerable time, but at present the main tunnelling through the hills is not large enough to furnish a complete supply.
Tags: Dams Newspaper Water Race Waterworks
