Increased population and light rainfall during the past five years have drained the city’s artesian water supply to a dangerously low level, Frederick Ohrt, manager and chief engineer of the board of water supply, warned Tuesday.

Only cautious operation of artesian supplies lying in areas under the city will save Honolulu’s water from salt infiltration during the next six months, Mr. Ohrt said.

He noted that at the end of that time, relief should be forthcoming from the Halawa water source, estimating that the 42 inch pipeline conveying water from Halawa to the city will be completed early next year.

The engineer said that although the situation is grave, he believes curtailment or rationing of water can be avoided by careful pumping operations, distributing the draft among the five artesian areas which comprise the district of Honolulu’s supply.

The water level, or “head,” at the Beretania St. pumping station has descended to an all time low of 22.3 feet above sea level, the engineer reported.

Engineering data leads water experts to believe that a drawdown to 18 feet above sea level would result in the infiltration of salt water into the artesian supply furnishing the Beretania St. pumping station.

Pumping at peak daylight hours diminishes the supply to 16 feet above sea level, two feet below the danger line, a system which can not be continued, Mr. Ohrt said.

Board officials hope to offset a catastrophe when full benefit of the Halawa supply, located outside the city proper, north of Red Hill, is realized.

Complete utilization of that supply is contingent on completion of the balance of the 42 inch pipeline now extending from Halawa to King St. to Gulick Ave.

When finished, nine additional miles of pipe will carry water from Halawa into Kaimuki for the relief of that district and Waialae.

Installation work on the Halawa project was delayed during the war. The section of pipeline still to be laid extends along Vineyard St. from Liliha St. to Gulick Ave.