452
14
As to the times at
which the
intermittent
system should be applied.
Shutting off house-ser- vices as a means of
restriction.
Improved arrange- ments for giving an intermittent
supply.
37. In the 41st paragraph of the said report. I stated that:-
"It seems clear that intermission should be postponed to the last moment, "and that, if it has to be adopted, then the water should be shut off for at least “15 hours a day.'
In writing this, I had principally before my mind, the relatively small reduction in consumption, that intermission brings about. In paragraph 14, of the said report, it is shewn that the consumption is not reduced, in direct proportion to the hours of daily intermission. By giving a supply for half the day, only, the consumption is not reduced by one-half, but almost inappreciably. Indeed, in order to bring about a reduction of one-half, the hours of supply must be limited to three hours or one-eighth of a day. This condition exists, even now,
What I decided to emphasise was, that it was better to have a short period of severe intermission, than a long period of slight intermission. Whatever may have been my views in 1894 as to the time at which restriction of consumption, by intermission or otherwise should be introduced, subsequent events shew clearly that, if the reservoirs are not full in September, restriction should be resorted to, and continued until at least sufficient stock is accumulated, to carry on the unrestricted supply, until the end of the water-year.
38. In the 41st paragraph of the report cited, the following suggestion is made:- "Indeed, it is worthy of consideration whether, if restriction has to be adoptel, the "best plan would be to shut off all house-services, leaving the people to obtain "their water from public taps, temporarily erected, if necessary, in the manner "adopted in England during frosts." I still consider that this would be the best course to pursue, especially if, at the termination of the wet season, the reservoirs were not full. Only houses provided with meter, would be allowed to retain a con- stant supply, and then a proper price for water would bring about the required economy. If this measure did not produce the desired reduction in consumption, then intermission might be resorted to. There is, however, a slight practical difficulty in shutting off all house-services, owing to the easy accessibility of the service stop- cocks. They can easily be opened again, by unauthorised persons. This, however, would be obviated by the adoption of the arrangement, which I will now describe, as a means of improving and facilitating the intermittent system of supply.
39. Inasmuch as many years must elapse before works of sufficient magni- tude, materially augmenting the general supply, can be carried out, and, there- fore, before the occasional introduction of the intermittent supply can be avoided, it is proper to consider the arrangements that can be made in order to render this system as efficient, and as little objectionable, as possible.
At present,
40. The following arrangement would greatly improve matters. house-services are connected, directly, to the street mains. I suggest that subsidiary mains, wrought iron pipes, of small diameter, should be laid parallel to the principal mains ("Rider-mains"), on one or both sides of the street, thus :-
House-services.
+ Rider-main.
Principal main.
Rider-main.
B
House-services.
|
The house services should be disconnected from the principal main, and connected to the rider-mains. In this way, the Town would be divided into blocks