Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-11-04
Waikiki RESERVOIR
ENGINEER TAYLOR WRITES
ON CAUSE OF Difficulties
Says Cost Of Repair Will be Small
First Work Done in Good
Shape Damage Done By
Unusual Floods.

Editor Evening Bulletin: re.
Wai'uku reservoir. and the damage 10
the same. and the estimated cost of ne
oessary repairs, have all been so great
ly exaggerated that the writer makes
the following statement of facts &c.
,;arding thu same:
On MONDAY the 2lst of October. !
made careful examination of the
Wailuku reservoir and advised as To-
the best manner and method OF making
the necessary repairs.
| The reservoir was constructed in June
and July Of l900-the general design
was a circular rescrvoir-having n
diameter OF S2is feet. and to hold about
ten feet of water. The walls and bot.
tom of the reservoir were constructed
of concrete, with a double cement lin
ing. The entire reservoir being cover
RI by roof of timber and shingled.
The roof being supported by the walls
Of the reservoir.
In the opinion OF the writer, the frat
or original cause of the damage was
due to the effects of the last Kona
storm. which was in the vicinity OF
Waikiki the most severe and disas-
trous known to the Oldest Inhabitants
on Maui and from the lack of proper
surface drainage from the roof and
reservoir site. A slight crack in the
wall of the Reservoir appeared. and
seepage commenced and continued un
til the earth outside the concrete walls
became thoroughly saturated with wa
ter. This condition combined with the
weight Of roof, and maximum pressure
OF full reservoir caused q slight set
tement. with the effect of charging
the crack, increasing the sCepage and
creating an upward pressure from tho
bottom. The upward pressure from,
below would be increased by the rapid
cmptying Of the reservoir through the
waste pipe (for the purposes Of clear
ing, or for eXaminaton) faster than
the surface of the water in the saturat.
cd plane would be reduced by seepagc
through the soil, or the crack in tht
wall.
The supply, discharge and vast.
pipes leading to and from the reservoir
and the gates controlling the same, ar
securely laid, and strengthened b!
concrete were in perfect condition a
the time OF my examination. ConCret,
and cement construction being perfect
~ rigid, the slightest settlement woull
cause crack. The men employed o!
the concrete and cement work wer,
Mr.. Abbey and Peter Jap-both o
The strength OF the cement used cal
only be obtained from careful tests o
the concrete and cement lining now ii
place in the reservoir.
In my opinion the necessary repair
can be readily made and at a SINAI
cost. The total cost OF the Wailuk
and Kahului water works, includln
water rights, rights of way, main an
distributing pipes, reservoir site an
reservoir, is approximately $50 ,OOC
These works are one OF the best inyes,
mcnts of the government, yleldln
three or four thousand dollars, beside
furnishing an abundant supply OF pur
mountain water for all purposes. Th
few hundred dollars necessary to pei
manently repair the reservoir Is
small item and could be easily arrane
: ed.
will say In closing that the appea,
Z ance Of the reservoir in its present cor
dltion would naturally give wron
imprC ssion and tend to greatly magnii