Page 253 - Bahrain Gov Annual Reports (IV)_Neat

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roofs is another difficult problem here—flat roofs arc highly desirable, in fact the older inhabitants
consider them essential—but the extreme ranges of temperature and the long period on which no rain
falls causes considerable movement in the roofs and consequent cracking.
In general, the local traditional style of building was continued, and as much use as possible
was made of local materials. The Government do not agree with certain ideas that appear to be increas­
ing in some quarters—the contention that local design and methods are obsolete and should be replaced
by Western standards ; and the refusal to make proper use of local materials of proved worth. There
is surely much to be said for the better examples of traditional local architecture—functionally the
buildings arc excellent and in appearance they fit well into the local setting. It is greatly to be
deplored that buildings arc now being erected in Bahrain which lake no account of local tradition,
and whose design shows little appreciation of local requirements. It is hardly surprising that some
of these erections fail functionally and offend aesthetically ; while the omission to use lccal materials
considerably adds to their cost.
No additions were made to the number of supervisory staff and in consequence everyone
concerned with the administration and running of the Department had to work at very high pressure.
As in previous years, the Office, Stores and outside staffs worked well. Certain economics
were effected, the most important being the adoption of the system of paying labour fortnightly on
the job, instead of weekly in the yard. The consequent saving of man-hours was very large.
To sum up, 1369 has been a fairly satisfactory year for the Public Works Department, a pro­
gramme far bigger than would have been thought possible a few years ago was carried through, and
more up-to-date methods were established. There is still much room for improvement (especially
in the quality of " finish ’’) but the year’s work suggests that in time the Public Works Department
will once more get back to its old standard of first-class work ; and at the same time be able adequately
to cope with the volume of work likely to be required by a growing and progressive state.

WORKS
I. Main Water Supply :
During the year connections were made to about 1,000 additional houses; and more public
services were installed. This gave rise to fears that, if the summer were really hot, the supply might
not prove adequate to meet the demand. It was therefore decided to increase the number of pumps.
Two new centrifugal pumps ore projected for installation during the coming winter; and to meet
any possible contingency during the summer of 1369, a centrifugal pump was hired from B.P. Co. Ltd.,
and installed in Rajab. Meanwhile the public were urged to be economical and the use of water except
for purely domestic purposes was forbidden. Results were encouraging—despite the big increase in
the number of consumers, daily consumption during the summer months was about 20 per cent lower
than in 1368. The highest consumption in one day was on 5/6th September—695,000 gallons.
No serious troubles were experienced with the mains ; but the water meters were not entirely
satisfactory, the filters being too coarse to hold up the large amount of salt in suspension in the water.
This made both the recording of consumption and accurate accounting rather difficult. There is no
practical alternative to meters at present ; and steps arc in hand to improve the filters.
During the year, the Public Works Department took over the control of the Pump House from
the State Engineer.
The'projccted new installations should put the supply on a sounder basis; and it may be
possible, next summer, to make some relaxation of the present rather drastic control over consumption.
II. Roads :
The metalling of the main roads made rapid progress and during the year over 15 miles of road,
average width 9 yards, was completed; as well as the entrance roads to His Highness’s Palace at Rafaa,
the Customs Pier, and the compounds of the Adviscrate, Hospital and Law Courts. At the close of
the year all the main roads which are Public Works Department responsibility had been surfaced, as
well as several miles of road in Manainah —normally the responsibility of the Manamah Municipality. In