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The Rushden Echo and Argus, 22nd September, 1944, transcribed by Gill Hollis
Board Will Report To Councils
Improving Local Water Resources
Rushden Urban Council’s request for regular information came before the Higham Ferrers and Rushden Water Board on Monday night. No objection was raised by the members, and in future Higham Ferrers Town Council and Rushden Urban Council will each receive copies of the Board’s minutes.
In a special report on the Wollaston auxiliary works the Surveyor (Mr. J. W. Lloyd) described how the intended yield of 10,000 gallons an hour had been greatly increased by the installation of more powerful pumping plant and the laying of collecting drains in the gravel, using an excavator.
The Chairman (Mr. J. Allen) said that with Ald. J. W. Barker he had twice visited the works, and found everything going satisfactorily.
Members viewed with concern the report of a recent test case, involving the Rhondda and Pontypridd Joint Water Board, in which the Court of Appeal ruled that income obtained by water authorities by the issue of precepts is subject to Income Tax.
Housing Sites
Referring to the Ministry of Health’s proposal that water mains should be laid as part of the advance preparation of housing sites, the Surveyor said that although the trenches would be dug by the main contractor, the Board’s own men would lay the pipes and fittings. He would be able to give an estimate of the cost after the Rushden and Higham Ferrers sites had been surveyed and tenders for the road work had been received.
Receiving a Ministry of Health circular on rural water supplies, the Board resolved to enquire as to how far it would apply to their district.
A report on the August supply showed that of the total output of 14,151,000 gallons no less than 10,300,000 gallons was drawn from the auxiliary supply works, where the pumps ran for an average of 15.84 hours per day. The water level at the main reservoir fell by two feet during July and August. Water consumption in Rushden and Higham Ferrers fell from 14,000,000 gallons in August, 1943, to 11,215,000 gallons last month; bulk sales to other authorities from 3,876,000 to 2,965,000. Details of bulk sales last month were: Irchester 1,900,000 gallons, Wymington 202,000, Mears Ashby Hall 14,000, Wollaston 677,000, Gt. Doddington 172,000.
Wymington Works
Dealing with an enquiry made at the last meeting, the Surveyor reported that the four wells forming part of Wymington works were capable of a total daily yield of from 35,000 to 40,000 gallons, though the pumps could handle 10,000 gallons per hour. The works were of great assistance in times of emergency and had this year supplied Rushden and Higham Ferrers with 4,389,000 gallons. In his opinion it would be undesirable for the Board to lose control of them at the present time.
Mr. Lloyd also presented his annual report for 1943, showing that, with the low rainfall of 17.35 inches at Sywell, the average daily run-off was only 367.392 gallons, compared with the normal 759,722 gallons. Rushden and Higham Ferrers used a daily average of 441,764 gallons, compared with 430,433 gallons in 1942, and the quantity sold in bulk was 42,558,000 gallons, compared with 37,719,000 gallons. The quantity used per head per day was 23.43 gallons. Analytical reports on the water were always very satisfactory.
Members attending the meeting were Messrs. J. Allen (Chairman), J. W. Barker (Vice-Chairman), F. Green, J.P., E. A. Sugars, J. H. J. Paragreen, E. J. Wright, F. Walker, J.P., and J. George.
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