THE SYDNEY WATER SUPPLY. 209 



THE SYDNEY WATER SUPPLY. 

 By T. W. Keele, m. inst. c.b. 



[Read before the Royal Society of N.8. Wa es, July 4, 1917 ] 



At the present time, when the Cataract and Prospect 

 Reservoirs are practically full to overflowing, the Cordeaux 

 Dam also having been commenced, which, on its completion 

 in about four years' time, will make a further large addi- 

 tion to the storage, and with the prospect of a succession of 

 favourable seasons, after so long a period of decline in the 

 rainfall as we have experienced, it may be considered in- 

 opportune to draw your attention to the subject of the 

 water supply of Sydney. 



I think, however, I shall be able to advance some very 

 good reasons why this question should not be left in abey- 

 ance, and I hope you will be interested in a proposal I 

 will presently submit for your consideration, which, if 

 adopted, will effect a very considerable alteration in the 

 system, and will result in greater economy and efficiency, 

 and, above all, security of the supply. 



In an investigation of this nature it is necessary, in the 

 first instance, to inquire into the rate of increase of the 

 population to be served with water in order to arrive at a 

 reliable estimate of future requirements. It is always diffi- 

 cult to determine with accuracy the number of persons to 

 be served with water, for the reason that the tables sup- 

 plied by the Government Statistician refer to the popula- 

 tion within municipal boundaries, whereas the system 

 supplying Sydney serves a very wide area entirely outside 

 the boundaries of the metropolis, in addition to those 

 within the city and suburbs. To arrive, therefore, at an 



N -July 4,1917. 



