The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-09-30
ARTESIAN SUPPLY OF OAHU
MENACED BY CARELESSNESS
Unnecessary Waste, Says Campbell Will Be
Disastrous to Agricultural Interests
Of Territory.

Of such formation less susceptible to
losses through percOlation than those
on Oahu. In 5000 feet Of ditch the
measurements of the incoming and out.
going water showed a loss of IL $40
per cent. Under less favorable condi-
tions, these losses would have been
materially greater. The overdraft on
the wells within the city of Honolulu
has been estimated to be between TO-.
100000 10 12,00O,000 gallons of water
per day, which is mainly made up of
preventable wastes and losses which
are unnecessary and criminal. The
average person, unless familiar by rea-
son of having investigated all eondi-
tons, does not appreciate the limita.
tions of the supply Of artesian water;
consequently on the broad principle
that the underground water of the Is
lands is not an individual or corporate
one, but that such water belongs to
the people at large, and in order to
preserve our present magnificent agri-
cultural development and aid in its
advancement, some proper authoritative
action must be taken to regulate wastes
and require the owners of lands and
industrial enterprises to control the use
of water to the point of its beneficial
application. such legislation would not
in any way be detrimental to present
or future operations, but would, when
our people realize the tremendous and
inestimable value of our underground
water supply, materially aid in the fu-
ture development and prosperity of our
| country.
The data so far secured and yet to
be secured will be submitted to the
geological experts of the United States
Geological Survey for final and more
complete determination. In this ex-
animation the wells we're numbered ac-
cording to their geographic position,
starting at Diamond Head with No. L
and then north through Honolulu, Pearl
HRrbor, Waialua and thence along the
windward coast with the date of sink,
ing of each well, so far as it is pos.
sible to be obtained 1t is expected
that complete geological and hydro
graphical information will be placed be-
fore the Executive prior to the session
of the next legislature.
Geological Investigations.
The department has also prepared
geological piles showing the material
encountered in boring various artesian
wells The material is placed in tubes
on a scale of 1-100. The advantage of
this graphic representation is that it
shows exactly the depth of the water
bearing strata, and the depth at which
artesian water is first struck Con-
trary to general belief, data so far OBJ
tanned indicate that the artesian sup
lply is not held in great caverns or open
ings under pressure, but that it is held
in porous rock which might in structure
be likeped to a sponge. From the in
formation at hand it is possible to pre-
pare longitudinal section of the stra-
tificatfon of the various artesian belts
The individual and the corporation
have been found ever ready and will
ing to extend every courtesy within
their power in aiding these investiga-
! tions
Note: On August 8, 1910, the water
stood at 1920 feet in one well in Ho-
nolulu. On August II, in another well
in Honolulu, it stood at 29.42. This is
the lowest record yet noted and is al
most foot lower than in August,
1909, Unless there be unusual rain
fall conditions between August, 1910,
and November, 1910, the height of the
water will probably fall to 90 feet.