The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-11-27
WATERWORKS
NEEDS AND PLANS

n nut IN part of the machinery moi
open TO easy inspection. 1t was good
luck that serious damage was not done
Nand the pumping station shut down for
a longer period, and at this particular
time when the water works system is
Just able to meet the urgent require.
ments Of the situation.
"This incident illustrates just how
close we are to the possibilities of a
situation that would be something aw-
full" said Superintendent of Public
Works Marston Campbell. "The truth
is that our waterworks system is a
patchwork concern that was built from
time to time to meet the immediate
requirements, and was not planned to
comprehensively meet the needs of the
city. / do not say this in any criticism
of my predecessors They did what
was possible with the material provided.
But unless sufficient funds are provided
to put the system on basis that the
demands on it require, we will con.
stantly be on the verge of disquieting
possibilities
'Take the pump that was installed
at Makiki last July and August. In.
stalled to meet an emergency it has in
reality saved the situation. If it had
not been for it, the Nuuanu reservoir
supplies Swonld have been exhausted
weeks # and we actually would not
have be&J in position to have sup
piled any water to large areas of the
city. BY means of that pump the Ma
kiki region as far west as Pensacola
street and all above Wilder avenue, be-
sides Manoa and College Hills, is served
so that the Nuuanu water goes no far
ther than Pensacola.
"The Kaimuki system is dependent
on some steel pipe at the pumping
plant, that is so inadequate for the de-
mands made on it that Joe Little holds
his breath while the tanks on Kaimuki
Hill are being filed, for fear this pipe
will give way, and that region be left
without water.
"We shall have ready for presenta-
tion to the Legislature plans for a sys.
TEN, which, when carried out, will fully
provide for population of 10000 u.s.
ing per capita allowance of 300 gal
Ions day. The plan will be complete
with maps and estimates. 1t includes
sixteen-inch main along King street.
One difficulty with our present system
is that the mains are too small. The
loss of power and pressure by friction
is something terrific. 1t includes new
reservoir at Kaimuk. 1t includes n
reservoir on Punchbowl at 2S0 feet ele-
walton, and one within the rim of
Punchbowl at an elevation of 400 feet.
We have found splendid location for
reservoir within the rim requiring a
tunnel of only sixty feet to get the
water to it.
"We are now preparing maps show
ing contour elevations at the 150.foot
elevation, the 2s0-foot elevation, and
the 400foot elevation. By means of
valves all water mains below the 150-
foot elevation may be shut off from
the main above it. Those above $50
feet may in the same way be shut off
from those above that elevation. From
the 400-foot reservoir an overflow pipe
will run to the 2s0-foot elevation, and
an overflow from that to the 150.foot
elevation. By this means we can give
equal pressure all over the city. The
pressure in the high elevations will be
just as good as that in the low eleva-
tions.
"We already have the high lift
pump for the 400.foot reservoir. 1t was
bought several years ago. If, in addi,
tion, the upper Pauoa springs, which
have minimum flow of million gal
Ions day, are bought, the water from
these can be brought down at an ele-
walton of 7s0 feet and distributed
through mains at that elevation, the
overflow running into the 400.foot
reservoir This would permit building
Mt any elevation under that. Of course,
the price that would have to be paid
for these springs would be the determin-
ing factor. They are not essential to
the system, but they complete it. Be
sides it should be the policy to obtain
for the public use all sources of un-
contaminated water tributary to the
city. The purchase of the Pauoa
springs would necessarily mean the con-
troll of the watershed above it. ~
'tlf the revenues of the waterworks
were given to the system to extend
and complete itself with, for four years,
it could be put in splendid condition
and made the greatest revenue produc.
ing utility belonging to the govern
ment.'
THE DEMOCRATIC SLATE.