Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-03-11
UNLESS RAIN
FALLS, WATER
Famine sure
Such Is Report from US. Hy-
geographic Survey and Local
Water Department
STREAMS ARE LOWEST
WITHIN KNOWN RECORD
Federal Office Finds Dry Feb
ruary Diminishes Discharge
Reservoirs Emptying

j.
Honolulu Is threatened with the Sc
verest water famine ever experienced
here, shortage in comparison with
which the unweleome experiences Of
1918 and 1912 will be nothing.
With practically no rain on Oahu
during January and February, partic.
ulariy the latter month, with little wa
ter In the reservoirs, with the streams
very low and no likely prospect Of adj
dition until next fall, the situation is
one which is admitted at the depart
nent Of public works 70 be alarming.
First intimation Of the state Of af-
fairs came to the skilled and alert OBJ.
servers Of the Y. s. photographic sur
vey office here. These men, noting
the records Of their clock register sta
tions far up the streams that come
mountains, a few days ago began to
establish the facts Of q "low dis
charge" unprecedented In local experl-
ence. The streams are lower today
than at any time within the past four
years, the figures extending only over
that period OF time.
G. X. Larriscn, engineer in charge
Of the Hawaiian district water re-
sources branch Ct the u. s. geological
survey, said this morning that there
is no question as to the gravity OF the
situation FOR honolulu in the summer
of 1914 unless unexpected rains should
fall.
@The actual records of the island
of Oahu and The runors and reports
from the other Islands" he states,
a'show that last February. was the
dryest within the past three years.
We have not yet received the months
record on the other islands, but II is
certain that the rainfall over the group
has been less than normal and the
streams are far lower.
Streams Lowest II Four Years.
As far as Oahu is concerned, all
streams on this island are at the
lowest point Of discharge ever reached
since the photographic survey has
been under way-about four years
Present indications are that unless
the coming season follows course
considerably at variance with past
summer seasons, Honolulu is going to
experience probably the worst drought
in 10 years past. Very likely 1t will
be dry season for all the Islands. :"
Mr.. Harrison and his trained staff
have been taking frequent measure
ments of the streams back of Homo
lulu, through their automatic clock
register stations. and have found with
out exception that the streams are
far lower than normal. lower than
last year or the year before that or
the year 1911.
While the beautiful February
weather was delighting Carnival
crowds. Il was giving concern to the
hydrographic survey and the water
works officials, because they knew
that unless rain fell in the hills; the
streams would drop steadily and the
supply in the reservoirs diminish.
MAY Have to Restrict Irrigation.
Supt ]. w. Caldwell of the depart
ment of public works. frankly admits
that the water situation in Honolulu
today Is a serious one. Up to the pres
ent, however, no unusual restrictions
have been imposed In the matter of
using water in any part of the city. but
in all probability unless heavy rains
come very soon. the irrigation Drivi-
leges will have to be annulled in GER
tain districts at least
Today the big reservoir in Nuuanu
valley. known as No. 4. holds but 90
100000 gallons of water. and this is
decreasing very RAPIDLY The city
uses about l4.000,000 gallons per day,
large part of which is supplied from
artesian wells.
At the end of December the Nu-
uanu dam held 10000, 600 gallons On
February 2S this had dropped to So.
100000; and in the ] days since that
time 30,000.000, or three-ffths of this
amount has disappeared.
The three other reservoirs in Nuu-
anu valley contain a total of 1000, 900
gallons at the present time, making
the total for all the reservoirs in the
valley, 54,000,000 gallons The arte-
sian supply still holds, but the water
level is steadily lowering, as il has
been doing for number of years.
The fact that the winter is now pass
ed. and the expected rains have again
failed to materialize, makes the out
look for the coming summer 4 seri-
Gus one. .. .....
Urges Meters be Installed.
Superintendent Caldwell says that ii
is possible at no great cost TO sup
plement the present supply by some
6.000,000 gallons per day. Also, he
declares that meters should be placed