Kōrero: Sewage, water and waste

Before town water supplies were introduced in the late 1800s and early 1900s, collecting water was a daily chore for many people. Some fed water from their roofs into wooden barrels. In places groundwater was close to the surface and wells could provide water. Wells in cities were often polluted by seepage from the cesspits under outhouses.

Courtesy of Kāpiti Coast District Libraries.