新西兰英语 385 Christchurch water

　　A number of wells providing water for Christchurch city were damaged during the September 4th earthquake.
Christchurch residents¹ are fortunate. The water that comes out of taps in people’s homes is pure and natural because it comes from under the ground. It is not treated with any chemicals because the layers of rock and gravel² under the ground filter³ the water, making it clean. Residents are also fortunate because they do not pay extra for the water they use. Their rates, which are city taxes, include water.
There are many wells around the city where water is pumped up from the ground. Some wells are shallow⁴ – about 20 m deep – while others are deeper – about 200m deep. About 10% of these wells are broken and need to be replaced. Another 44 are damaged and need to be repaired. But this takes time.
Meanwhile, Christchurch residents have to be careful not to use too much water on their gardens this summer. Christchurch is called “The Garden City” because so many people have flower gardens and vegetable gardens. When the weather is hot, gardeners want to turn on the hose⁵; however, if they use too much water, there will be restrictions⁶ on when people can hose their garden.
Questions
1. People in some areas – like Auckland⁷ – pay extra for their water, not as part of their rates. The more they use, the more they pay. Some people feel that water is a “right” and should be free. What do you think?
2. How can people save water?
3. Before the earthquake, there was enough water in Christchurch for everyone but what about the future? If the population grows, how can we make sure there is enough water?
4. Many people worry about the amount of water that is used by the dairy⁸ industry in Canterbury to make the grass grow. Should farmers pay for water?
Note: There are 172 wells in Christchurch – 44 are slightly damaged and 10% are badly damaged.

1 residents   

n.居民( resident的名词复数 )；（旅馆的）住宿者

参考例句：

• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。
• Local residents have reacted angrily to the news. 当地居民对这一消息表示愤怒。

2 gravel   

n.砂跞；砂砾层；结石

参考例句：

• We bought six bags of gravel for the garden path.我们购买了六袋碎石用来铺花园的小路。
• More gravel is needed to fill the hollow in the drive.需要更多的砾石来填平车道上的坑洼。

3 filter   

n.滤器，过滤嘴；v.过滤，透过

参考例句：

• Foreign influence began to filter into the country.外国势力开始渗透进这个国家。
• Charcoal is used to filter water.木炭是用来过滤水的。

4 shallow   

adj.浅的，肤浅的，浅显易懂的；n.(pl.)浅滩，浅处；v.变浅

参考例句：

• The dish is too shallow to serve soup in.盘子太浅，盛不了汤。
• His analysis was always shallow.他的分析总是很肤浅的。

5 hose   

n.输水软管，长统袜；vt.浇园子，用管冲洗

参考例句：

• Connect the hose to the tap and turn on the tap.把水管接在龙头上，打开水龙头。
• After raining,I always hose the yard out.雨后，我总是用软管把院子冲干净。

6 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

7 Auckland   

n.奥克兰(新西兰港市)

参考例句：

• Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand.奥克兰是新西兰最大的城市。
• Return to auckland by bus in afternoon.下午乘车返回奥克兰。

8 dairy   

n.牛奶场，乳品店；adj.乳制品的

参考例句：

• The yogurt sold by this dairy is delicious.这家乳品店出售的酸奶非常好喝。
• He kept a few dairy cows.他养了几头奶牛。