All Tumut Water Users to be Metered

27 February 1945 The Tumut and Adelong Times 

Twenty meters to be installed immediately by Shire Council.

Tumut shire council decided at   its meeting on Wednesday to meter every water consumer in Tumut. 

All existing meters are to be reconnected and 20 new meters are to be purchased and installed immediately as a preliminary to the metering of every consumer, the work to be carried out gradually from year to year.

The waterworks engineer, Mr. S. J. Denton, attended the meeting and reported that he was very pleased with the new water pump, though he was not very enthusiastic about the amount of water which was going into the reservoir - 14,000 gallons an hour in the preliminary test, though it was supposed to lift18,000 gallons an hour. 

Cr. Learmont stated that the old steam-pump gave 9000 gallons an hour and the old electric pump 18,000 gallons an hour.

According to the power used and the size of the new pump, it should give 21,000 gallons an hour; but the specifications only guaranteed 18,000 gallons.

The first test showed it pumped 4000 gallons less than guaranteed by the specifications. 

Mr. Denton said the water position had become a lot easier since the installation of the new pump, though the weather had also assisted a great deal also. The new pump should not use more power than 1.19 units per 1000 gallons.

He considered the amount of water being pumped was a tremendous amount for 2500 people. 

At this stage a petition signed by 19 residents of Blowering Road, Tumut, asked Council to extend the water main as far as W. J. Dowling's residence. Cr. Learmont said this would mean an extension of about 2 miles into 'C' Riding.

He would like to see these residents provided with the water, but it was going to cost anything up to £1600. 

Council could hardly extend the water mains when it could not keep up the supply to present users.

He had gone round one afternoon on a tour of inspection.

There were four sprinklers going at Frank Mulvihill's and the water was so much that the ground was water logged.

Sprinklers were going at Dr. Harbison's - one of the town's most prominent sprinklers.

Possibly the latter were going all day.

Another instance was Bassett's at Newtown. It appeared that the majority, of people were keeping within Council's bounds.

Mrs. Stace of Broughton-st., had a beautiful flower and vegetable garden.

This sort of thing should be encouraged if Council could supply the water. 

Cr. Quarmby opined that the only way to give proper service and to maintain the supply to all consumers was to meter the lot.

He had had a drive round the town also, and everywhere sprinklers could be seen going.

In many instances the water was coming out over the footpaths.

No one in the heart of the town, where little water was used, should have to pay for this waste.

He suggested that they link up all existing meters and that they put on another 20 straight away as a start to metering everyone.

He understood the Co-operative Store had to pay about £20 a year for water rates, which was not equitable.

The sanitary contractor had told him he had repeatedly turned off hoses which had been going all night.

The only way was to install meters the same as the electric light.

Both services were essential and he asked Council to consider the metering of all water users.

Possibly a maximum consumption of, say, 40,000 gallons could be allowed each consumer, all excess to be paid for and the water rate could be reduced. 

Cr. Burbury said there were approximately 500 houses connected with the water supply and the water pumped each day was tremendous to supply this num- ber of consumers.

The sewerage scheme was only using 9 per cent of the water pumped.

He moved that Council hook up all existing meters and install another 20 immediately as a preliminary to metering everyone.

This was seconded by Cr. Roche.   

Cr. Lcarmont said it was a knotty question.

The present method was very unfair to some ratepayers.

Commercial users of water in the town only had to pay the minimum rate.

The cordial factory, bowling green and market gardens did not have to pay for any excess. 

If a soakage in the bull paddock was coming from Mr. T. Smiths vegetable garden in Capper-street then he was using a terrific amount of water.

Cr. Learmont said he would like to give everyone as much water at possible where the use of it was beautifying the town, but the commercial anomalies crept in. 

He considered that the minimum rate was too low.     

The motion was then put to the meeting and was carried, Cr. Hassett dissenting.

In connection with the request from the Blowering roadside residents the procedure was that where the applications were outside 'D' Riding they themselves do the work and pay 2/- per 1000 gallons to the Council. 

It was decided, on the motion of Crs. Burbury and Learmont, to advise the petitioners that Council would supply the water if they undertook the work and expense of the water main extension.