The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-06-10
THE WATER
PROBLEM
Supt. Rowland Advo-
Gates Gravity System
for City.

ture development OF an ADEQUATE sun
able and economical gravity supply for
the City of Honolulu?
What increase in the net revenues
would we realize in such an achieve
ment?
Would the advantages resulting from
the perfection of such a system out
weigh the Disadvantages
This is by no means the first time
this subject of water supply has been
brought up here, though it is surpris-
ing that it should have excited so lit
lie attention. After some careful con-
sideration, together with a thorough
investigation into the possibilities at
the heads of these valleys, so admir-
ably located back of Honolulu, there
is no question that, with the construc
ton of large storage reservoirs, the
result would be the final achievement
lent quality. and system in which the
cost of maintenance is reduced to
minimum. Mr.. S. G.. Walker has just
completed a very thorough investiga-
ton into the possibilities in the Upper
Nuuanu Valley, and besides submit
posed improvements to No. 1 reser-
voir and pipe line down to the new
electric power station, has filed reports
plainly showing just what can be ex-
pected from this source. We have at
the present time consuming popula-
ton of about $4,000 and the mean daily
consumption is approximately 100000
gallons. Or a per capita consumption
of about 200 gallons per "a hours. The
present high rate of consumption is
admittedly unwarranted and may be
very materially reduced (probably be-
low $50 gallons per capita), by rigid
house to house inspection, thorough
search for leaks in reservoirs and
street mains, together with a moderate
installation of meters. Disregarding
this lowering of the per capita con-
sumption, we find frome diagrams and
submitted by Mr.. Walker that
the new 450, 100000 gallon reservoir in
Nuuanu Valley, together with the pro-
posed improvements to No 1 reser-
voir, so as to contain 50,000,000 gallons,
would yield a continuous flow with
two exceptions, of at least 5,250,000
gallons per "a hours throughout the
last Is years the period covered by
the rain records), or about seventy
one per cent of the entire consumption.
In addition to these Improvements
in the Nuuanu Valley, which are al
ready provided for should we continue
and make similar improvements in
he oil Vol he 10y
next best fitted for impounding a
large quantity of water, We would be
able to depend on a continuous sup
ply of about ten per cent. in excess of
the present consumption, except in
short periods OF extraordinary drouths.
which as inferred above, happened
twice in the past fifteen years. A pre-
iiminary survey of an excellent reser-
voir site at the very head of the Ka-
lihi Valley is conclusive that, at an
tain a storage capacity of approx
mately 275, 100000 gallons of water. To
this cost add $4,000 for the laying of
a large effluent pipe down the valley
and connecting it up with the general
system at King street, and
the system is made adequate to meet
tIlG pIeSeiil requirements All duul-
tional supply could be obtained from
the Makiki Valley, at a comparatively
small cost (s50. 100000, which, al
though of much less value than either
of the Nuuanu or Kalihi sources. would
serve an important function in tending
to equalize the pressure in the outer
or Makiki portions of the system, by
being so arranged that the water could
the pressure might be drawn down be-
low the normal. Thus it is seen that
with an expenditure of approximately
$1,000 mot thus far provided for), an
adequate supply is ensured.
That a remarkable saving to the Ter
ritory would be realized through the
perfection of such gravity system,
will be readily seen from review of
the following facts:
One of the most important provinces
of a water works system is the ex-
tinguishing of fires The best authori-
ties on the subject of fire protection
are unanimous in their opinion that
there is no system of water supply
that is in any way equal to that of a
gravity supply, with an abundant pres
sure at the hydrants $50 per cent. per
square inch), connected up with street
mains from 6 inches in diameter up
wards; such condition might readily
be realized here in Honolulu and would
certainly insure prompt action with
efficiency in case of fires.
From the most reliable data that could
be obtained il is safe to say that not
less than $3.50, 600 is paid in annually
as premiums on fire insurance here in
Honolulu alone. and, with the installa-
ton of an adequate gravity water sup
ply, that at least five per cent. of this
amount or s12.500 would be saved each
year by the property owners and tax
payers, who through high insurance
eventually pay for their own heavy
losses, the rates being primarily fixed
and controlled by the amount of fire
losses. The excessive pressure which
we would have on our downtown
mains, if the water We're admitted di-
rectly into the system from the reSer-