Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-04-16
MAYOR LANE FOR
DEVEL0P|NGCITY
WATER SUPPLIES
In Letter to Representative, He
Proposes Conservation
Methods

A new step toward increasing the
water supply OF the city and COnserv-
ing artesian water was taken yeSter-
day by Mayor Lane. Supervisor iiOr-
her and Harry Murray. general man
eger of the water and sewer depart
mentS.
Accompanied by a report from Muir
ray and letter from Mayor Lane. a
measure was sent to Representative
William Williamson with the request
that he introduce it at once. Said
Mayor Lane in his letter to RepreSen-
tative Williamson:
The bill seeks to require the con-
servatiOn OF artesian water as used
tor cooling Condensers. and suggests
a method by which the water may be
county. For your information | am
sending you a report Of the water de-
partment which has just been made
to me. 1t shows clearly that it Is not
necessary to use artesian water for
the purpose of cooling cOndensers,
and shows also that the artesian level
has decreased alarmingly."
The measure amends an existing
statute and provides a simple meth
cd, says the officials, Of doing away
with a 5000, 000-galIon daily waste of
artesian water. 1t provides that the
companies using the water for con-
densing purposes shall install cool
ing tower, or, If they wish, they may
turn the water over to the city and
county after its use in condensers.
In the latter event the government
must pay the cost Of delivery.
Utilities companies who would be
affected by the bill should it be en-
acted are said to be unopposed to it.
The Hawaiian Electric Company
has on several occasions offered its
waste water to the government on the
same condition as outlined in the bill.
Murray's report to the mayor, which
brought forth the bill, reads as fol-
lows:
"A question of utmost Importance
which has arisen graphically in the
last few days should be called to your
attention at this time while the legis-
lature is in session. This question
concerns the greater conservation Of
the artesian water supply of the is
land.
We: are confronted with shortage
of water in Nuuanu valley. 1t is nee
essary to operate one more pump to
supply portion of this section which
is ordinarily supplied by the Nuuanu
reservoir. And while this condition
exists, between six and seven million
gallons of artesian water is going to
waste daily after being used for the
purpose of cooling condenserS.
The heavy tax upon the artesian-
water supply is beginning to show its
effects. Mr.. G.. K. harrison, superin-
tendent of photography, GU. 81 has
stated that the artesian head has
dropped IA feet in the last 80 years,
or an average of six inches a year.
Mr.. harrison sees something alarm
ing in tbs steady drop, and the only ex-
PLANTATION of it is that we are grad
ually exhausting our supply of such
water
The fact is that we are drawing on
our artesian water unnecessarily 1t
is not necessary that it be used for
cooling condensers, or, if used, that
it should be wasted afterwards. Con-
densers can be cooled by use of sea
water. think the companies which
are now using the artesian water
should be obliged either to use sea
water instead of the other, or to put
up cooling tanks that the artesian wa
ter may be reused There is another
suggestion in this connection: it is
that some arrangement be made with
the companies for the water after be- i,
ing used for condensing purposes to ,
be turned over to the city and county !,
upon some satisfactory arrangement. !
1t would probably work out to ad.
vantage If the legislature would pass
a measure requiring water used for
cooling condensers to be put in a tank !,
for reuse, thus doing away with this
great waste, or to deliver the water
over to the city and county for it's .
use. This department has no inten-
ton or desire to deprive the owners
of artesian wells of any reasonable ;