THE SYDNEY WATER SUPPLY. 211 



It is conducted to Prospect Reservoir — 40 miles — 

 through a conduit, 33 miles of which are in open canal; 

 from Prospect to pipehead by a further length of five miles 

 of open canal; thence to Potts Hill, 5 miles, the water is 

 taken through two 6-feet diameter wrought iron pipes laid 

 upon the surface of the ground. From Potts Hill the 

 water is taken underground in pipes, and passes into cir- 

 culation throughout the city. 



Owing to its physical conditions, the main portion of 

 the supply, namely, 62 per cent., has to be lifted to the 

 higher zones by pumping, the principal pumping stations 

 being at Crown-street on the south side, and Ryde on the 

 north side of the Harbour. 



The percentage of water pumped has been gradually in- 

 creasing, until 1914-15, when it reached 68 per cent. The 

 drop to 62 per cent, last year was probably to a great 

 extent caused by the prohibition of the sprinklers, owing 

 to the rapid diminution of the storage in the reservoir, 

 caused by the protracted drought. On reference to Mr. 

 Clarke's report (18th May, 1877) on the Sydney Water 

 Supply, it will be seen that it was not then anticipated 

 that so large a percentage of pumping as has occurred 

 would be required ; but it is a remarkable fact that ; when- 

 ever facilities for obtaining water on the higher levels have 

 "been given, extensive settlement has followed — the public 

 evidently preferring the higher zones for residential pur- 

 poses ; and when it is reflected that as more and more of 

 the foreshore of the harbour is being resumed for com- 

 mercial purposes, the people will naturally be compelled 

 to resort to the higher levels. Seeing that the gravitation 

 limit is 141 feet on the south side, and only 97 feet on the 

 north side, and that very tall buildings in the city area 

 above that limit are increasing rapidly, I think it is 

 reasonable to anticipate that for years to come the per- 



