The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1882-10-18

TIM water supply: this is a subject il
which every man, woman and child in the
city is directly interested. and it is one
to which the Government should give
earnest attention. At the present moment
the supply is most inadequate, and it
seems to be distributed in very spas
modic and inscrutable manner. Through
out a considerable section of the town,
no water can be obtained after 8 a. m.
This section contains two large schools,
numbering between them about $50 or
200 children: these are dependent for
drinking water upon what they can man
age to bring along with them in bottles or
Jugs: of course there Is not drop which
can be used for washing purposes; and
in our climate, frequent washing of hands
and face. is positive necessity, especially
when much blackboard work, involving
the use of chalk, Is resorted to. In other
sections of the town, are numerous house
holders, who are dependent upon getting
their water from a distance, for every
domestic purpose, the water pipes giving
no supply whatever.
Under these circumstances we thought
it would not be amiss if we had look at
the reservoirs in Nuuanu Valley. The
lower one, has not too plentiful supply
of water but there is water enough, if the
pipes are all right to give people what
water they need during the day. The
upper reservoir we found quite full and
water even running over by the waste
,,1,, vt-,r 4nl
reservoir should not have sufficient sup
ply of water, Is a mystery which needs
explanation
The season has been exceptionally dry.
and of course for that the Government
cannot be blamed, but blame must rest
with them for not attempting to cope with
the difficulty when it has come upon them.
The advantages of water supply system
only becomes patent when drought comes
in; we need to be insured against drought.
Now from the information which has been
given to us, we find that a very large
quantity of water which might be utilized
for the necessities Of the town, Is drawn off
from the stream long before it reaches the
reservoirs, and that by people who have
no right to il whatever Encroachments
upon the rights of those who pay for
water privileges should be guarded against
and that can only be by the greatest vigi-
lance. We fail to find any symptoms of
vigilance in the upper part of Nuuanu
Valley
The whole truth with regard to the in
adequate supply lies in a nut shell; the
water works forms one of the very few
paying" government institutions
leges for water have been granted far out
of proportion to the supply which can be
counted on in time of drought: the small
reservoir. which was designed to supply
those residents who were above the level
of the old Nuuanu Reservoir, has been
drawn upon to furnish water in directions
that its originators never intended In
other words the water-works have been
selling what they did not possess, and now
being only in position to supply very
small per centage of the water which they
thought was at their command, they are
cutting people down in their rights and |
privileges and charging them the same
rates as when they had full supply |
When man has paid for SIS, or $50 |
privilege, what right have the water |
to deprive him of water en-
tirely. or during large part of the day
and still claim full remuneration. If we |
are to be deprived of our water privileges,
our rates for the water that is doled out |
should be lowered. The position is paral-
lei to that of firm. who having taken
contract for the supply of 1000 tons of
,oal, are only able to send 800, and yet
claim the same remuneration as if they
lad supplied the full order.
From whatever point we look at the
water question, the result is unsatisfac-
DRY: the grumbling and growing about
t will one of these days end in pro
onged roar. 1t was not many weeks ago
hat very prominent man was anxious to
all a meeting upon the subject. He had an
with the Ministry and they
atisfed him, that they were going to take
he matter in hand The manner in which
he matter has been taken in hand. is
hewn by the great lack of water through
nut the town