✨ Waterworks report continuation
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doubtless be found expedient to establish public waterworks ere the population numbers 2000, it will be more economical to start with one high service reservoir; and whenever the population shall have increased so far as to demand an extension of the works, you will be enabled to set aside the original high service reservoir for the exclusive supply of the Port and shipping, and construct a larger one at a lower level to supply the Town, and this without incurring any heavy loss in taking up small mains and laying down larger ones, as the original rising main would continue in use and a new main of about equal size be laid on to the low service reservoir which would be supplied from a separate engine and pumps, thus forming two distinct services, each complete in itself; and the alterations of the service mains would (if carefully managed) consist principally in an extension of the branches rather than in substituting large mains for small ones.
Another and most important reason for commencing with one high service reservoir in preference to two smaller ones (one high and one low) is, that in case of fire the water from the first might be thrown over any building in Town or Port, whilst under the latter arrangement the water from the low service reservoir would be much less effective in the Town itself, and would be cut off altogether from the Port, thus leaving it entirely dependant on the small high service reservoir. It may be said, there is an abundance of salt water to raise it, and unless this is under the charge of a properly paid and organized fire brigade, it is usually out of order, or is got into action only when too late to be of any service, whilst with a high service reservoir, and fire plugs at proper intervals, the hose may be screwed on and brought into use in a few minutes or even seconds.
Whenever there shall be a population sufficiently large, located on the higher parts of Scinde Island, there may be supplied without the construction of more reservoirs, by simply carrying up a stand pipe to the requisite height above the Shakespeare Road reservoir, and allowing the pumps to force the water through it for a given time each day, to be regulated according to the demand; in this way also the barracks may be supplied. An overflow pipe would be required from a small cistern placed on top of the stand pipes, to lead back to the reservoir whatever water might be forced up in excess of the demand.
Assuming that the works will be constructed sufficiently large, in the first instance, to supply a population of 4000 with 20 gallons of water each per diem, the cost of the works will be about £10,000, including 2½ miles of rising main, 3 miles of service main, settling reservoirs, service reservoir, engine house, 12 horse power engine, boiler, pumps, air chambers, sluice cocks, fire plugs, street services &c. complete; but exclusive of any stand pipes, or mains for any district higher than Shakespeare Road, and exclusive of any pipes or fittings for private use.
Steam power is here recommended, because in this locality no other will be found so cheap or effective.
Wind power cannot be depended upon for a constant daily supply, and if adopted would involve the construction of a service reservoir to contain at least one month's supply which would cost here more than all the other works together.
Water power is also inapplicable there being no head of water available for working an overshot wheel and no current strong enough to work an undershot wheel without going a mile and a half higher up the river, which additional length of main pipe added to the cost of the water wheel, and the works would render this system more costly than steam power, and by no means so satisfactory in operation.
The daily supply of water is given above at 20 gallons for each head of the population, this being a fair average allowance, although some of the water companies in England supply as much as 30 gallons per head.
Should it be deemed advisable in order the sooner to accomplish this undertaking, to construct works on a smaller scale than those above contemplated, say to supply a maximum population of 3,000 with 15 gallons each per diem, the cost of the necessary works may be reduced from £10,000 to £7,000, but the annual working expenses will be nearly the same in both cases, the only
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✨ LLM interpretation of page content
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Report on house-drainage and water supply for Napier
(continued from previous page)
🏗️ Infrastructure & Public Works12 August 1859
Drainage, Water supply, Reservoir, Napier, Engineering, Public Works
Hawke's Bay Provincial Gazette 1859, No 6