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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Otago & Southland Provincial Districts]

Water Supply And Drainage

Water Supply And Drainage.

So far back as 1862 the first attempt was made to provide Dunedin with a regular water supply. In December of that year a Waterworks Company was formed, and by the end of 1863 a scheme was devised and submitted to the Provincial Government by Messrs Millar and Hutchison. In August, 1866, Mr. D. Proudfoot began the work of construction, and in December, 1867, the water was finally turned into the mains by the Mayor, Mr. J. H. Harris. The waterworks were transferred to the control of the City Council early in 1875. The water was taken from the Leith, and was collected in a reservoir near Woodhaugh. It was of rather dubious quality, while the constant growth of the city soon made it plain that, expensive as the first scheme had been, a larger supply was needed. In December, 1877, the city supply absolutely broke down; and after a long and bitter controversy the City Council decided to augment the supply by bringing in water from a considerable distance. The Silverstream, twenty miles away, was laid under contribution, and in December, 1881, at a cost of an additional £80,000, the water supply was brought into reasonable relation with the requirements of the town. The water is carried down to the city reservoir by a large race, and is in quality quite satisfactory, while an extension of the present waterworks, still further supplementing the Leith reservoir, could augment the quantity available for consumption to almost any desirable extent.

Of the drainage system of Dunedin little can be said. Dunedin, like most other colonial cities, is badly in want of a complete sewage system, with connections from every house. So far, the drainage system is not at a sufficiently advanced stage to admit of detailed description. What is required is not the casual construction of drains and sewers, according as the need for them happens to arise, but a comprehensive scheme based upon the best professional advice obtainable—a scheme that shall include page 43 the whole city and suburbs, and be capable of wide extension. Probably the movement towards the inclusion of the city and suburbs in a Greater Dunedin will prepare the way for a public works system on a larger and more adequate scale. A glance at the vital statistics already quoted will show that Dunedin, in spite of its naturally healthy and bracing climate, would be much improved from the hygienic standpoint by a better system of sanitation.

Reservoir, Dunedin Waterworks Armstrong, photo.

Reservoir, Dunedin Waterworks
Armstrong, photo.