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Show ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF WATER DEVELOPMENT 27 TEMPORARY RELIEF The 1929 report of the Water Advisory Board had stated its conclusions concerning underground water sources as follows: " Due to difficulties encountered in economically developing underground water sources; relatively high cost of water acquired, together with the small amounts obtained and the uncertainty of gaining a permanent flow; laws which do not clearly define the relative rights to underground water developed, involving lawsuits for infringement of existing right; it appears that the sphere of an underground supply is limited to a supplemental or emergency use. In other words, it might be desirable to develop such a supply to tide over short periods of deficiency in other supplies." It must have been considered a time of extreme emergency, for the City at this time embarked upon an extensive program of underground water purchases. Flowing well rights were bought for large sums of money and the supposed underground rights of thousands of acres of lands in the " artesian basin" were bought up. These last in reliance upon a legal theory S. L. C. Eng. Dept. 42. One of the " Erickson" wells ( above) in the Murray Artesian Basin, purchased by the City as part of the 1931 emergency water development program. 43. A view ( below) of the " Association" Wells, also located in the Artesian Basin and purchased by the City in 1931. S. L. C. Eng. Dept. |