Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-03-06
BIG DISTRICT AFFECTED
BY SUDDEN WITHDRAWAL
OF WATER PRIVILEGES

Commenting upon the fact that
irrigation privileges have been
withdrawn altogether from the
Kalia, Nuuanu and Manoa dis
tricts and limited in the remain
ing districts to the hours of 6 to s
a. m, A. C. Wheeler, assistant SUI
perinten1ent of the department of
public works, stated this morning
that the time has come when it is
absolutely essential to stop the ex-
orbitant waste of artesian water
occurring daily on the island of
Oahu. Wheeler stated that 1t
would be necessary to exercise
some control over the water
which is taken from the wells and
not made use of. He declared that
at present the flow from the
springs is decreasing, the amount
of water stored in reservoirs is
likewise going down, and the arte-
sian level lis sinking to such an
extent that it has become neces-
sary to refuse water for irrigation
in order to give the consumers
sufficient water for domestic pur-
poses. Wheeler stated that unless
steps had been taken at once to
cancel the irrigation privileges
that Honolulu would have faced a
dearth of supply. He added, how
ever, that if proper steps we're
taken to stop the daily waste of
water occurring in Honolulu the
supply would be sufficient.
Chief Engineer Riekssof the wa
ter works declares that the
pumps are inadequate and the
pipes too small to handle the wa
ter under the present conditions.
He explained that an additional
pump had been installed in the
Makiki district to help out the
Beretania plant, but that even then
complaints were coming from all
sides of the lack of water for do
nestle purposes. Relative to the
waste from artesian wells, it was
stated at the water works office
that in certain districts of the city
there are artesian wells which,
uncapped, pour their flow of thou
sands of gallons daily into the
ocean. .>..... r..
The irrigation privileges were
cancelled by formal notice ap-
pearing in this mornings paper.
The privileges suspended are
those in the Nuuanu and Manoa
valleys and the Kalia district.
The Nuuanu valley gravity system
includes: Nuuanu valley, Alewa,
Heights and Puunui down to and
including makai side of School
street from Insane Asylum to Lu-
so street; Punchbowl district, in
cluding Luso street from School
street to Lunalilo; Lunalilo from
Luso TO Victoria; Victoria from
Lunalilo to Thurston; Thurston
from Victoria to Wilder avenue,
and all the district north OF Will
der and west of Makiki street.
The Manoa system includes Ma
noa valley, College Hills and the
section bounded by Keeaumoku,
Nowewehi and Hastings streets
and Manoa road. $751;.
The Kalia system includes the
section between Kalakaua avenue
and the beach beginning at the
corner of King street and Kala-
kaua avenue and ending at the
Moana Hotel
J., NJ. Little, Superintendent of
the water works, in his published
notice this morning declares:
All holders of water privileges
are hereby notified that due to eX-
traordinary weather conditions
and drought, irrigation in the
Nuuanu and Manoa valleys and
Kalia district is entirely suspend
ed until further notice
"All privileges in the above
mentioned districts found irrigat-
ing, and all other privileges found
irrigating outside of the hours