New-York tribune., 1877-06-02
HOW TO SAVE THE CROTON.
GEN. GILMORE ON THE LIVERPOOL WATER
METER SYSTEM.


To the Editor Of the Tribune.
SIR: In the best-aTanged water-wOrks in which
the of water to consumers is not regulated by
suitable meters. very large proportion of the total
supply is lost under the comprehensive designation
of raste, that ordinarily ont of every 100 gallons
passing through a main 80 gallons are lost by
what is known continuous hidden waste
caused by leaks in the main; 80 gallons
more are lost by superficial waste from defective
fittings, bad connections open valves or taps, &c,
and the remaining 80 gallons arc drawn off for
without restriction whether applied to any useful
purpose or not This wasted water not only entails
loss-Ofen n great loss-of money value, but it is
also fruitful source of sickness by keeping the
walls, grounds and foundations Of dwellings damp.
In many instances notably in London and Liver
pool il so far curtaled the supply available for use
full purposes TO render resort to an intermittent
service necessary, and water could be turned on for
a few hours only out of the "a.
The evils of an intermittent service are too well
known to need discussion. They develop themselves
under peculiarly aggravated forms when succeeding
10 constant supply for the reason that every house.
through the water-closets, bathrooms &c, with
which 1t has been provided, becomes receptacle of
poisonous sewer gases, and spreads disease and ddeah
among the occupants. The most dangerous
of the sewer gases are those possessing little if
any odor and it is impossible to detect their presence
except by the disastrous consequences which they
iuhict. When the water is cut off periodically by
intermittent service the mains empty Themselves
at first from the higher into the lower levels and
then from the lower levels by leakage into the sur
rounding soil Foul air and foul liquids rush in at
defective Places and the pipes become filed partly
from these sources and partly by indraits
from sewer drains and priyies. Where els
terms rcsorted to- they generally are, for the
storage of water during ntermission the cistern
overflow pipe would usually discharge into the sewer
or housc-drain aud thus expose the entire surface OF
the cisern water TO direct contact with foul sewer
gases of which fresh water is prompt and power
full absorbent +. J. Bramwell, Civil Engineer,
F. Il. - i'm report to the Water Committee OF TIE
Liverpool Town Council, dated June 30, 1874,
states that although the intermittent service can be
speedily rcsorted to, and goes a long way toward
attaining the object in Yiew-that Of preventing the
waste of water-this method of accomplishing the
object is. in his judgment, greater evil than the
waste itself.
1t may be safely assumed that no populous COM
munity in the United States would submit to the
annoyanccs and dangers of an intermittent water
supply if il could DC prevented by liberal or even
an cxor5itant expenditure of money. Neither would
they willingly submit to the introduction OF house
meters and housc-to-house yisitatons to prevent
been or could be de- ised for attaining that object.
What they require is sufficient and constant supply
Of water under such reasonable regulations to guard
against needless loss as the municipal authorities
shall find il necessary TO impose.
Tie consumption of water in the principal cites
and towns in the United States is very large New
York consumes nearly, if not quite, 100 gallons per
day for every man, woman, and child; Detroit, 50
Gallons: Chicago and Hartford, each 80 gallons;
Reading Penn, and New-lIayen. Conn, each 70
gallons: Albany, 20 gallons; Springfield, Mass, G6
gallons: Buffalo, n. T., 63 gallons; Brooklyn, -.
Louis, and Boston, each 60 gallons; Philadelphia
30 gallons; Toledo - gallons; Cincinnati, % gal-
Ions: Baltimore 30 Gallons; Lowell, Mass, II gal
Ions: Cleveland i3 gallons; Providence, x. l.
using meters, 80 galljns and Milwaukee, p gal
Ions This list is not presumed TO furnish
with strict accuracy the absolute average daily
consumption in each case, TO answer purposes OF
comparison for determining whore there is the most
actual waste, since il embraces certain QuiN Ntics
used IN manufacturing establishments which vary
greatly among the different cities. But after oil
allowances are made, it seems impossible. except on
the supposihon OF great and unnecessary waste. to
account for the fact that in many OF the cite; the
consumption j. twice as great, and III some three
times as great as in others.
Few communities, not surrounded by circum-
stances Of an exceptional character, require FOR
actual consumption more than 33 gallons per mead
per day for domestic, manufacturing, and pubic
p1rpo.es For domestic use only, 20 gallons per
head perdayis generally ample. Agowins city, with
its water-works running 10 their full capacity, and
4 consumpton exceeding 33 gallons per head per
day. i, forced to adopt one of three courses, viz:
l. 70 provide means of preventing waste;
. To increase the capacity Of its watcr-Works; or
g. To resort to an intermittent service.
The City of Liverpool was in this dilemma having
begun with Il constant supply which had 70 DC
given UP the waste was so great In 1873 the dis-
trict or wastc-water meter system was introduced
..Thc service was then intermittent, and the supply
for domestic purposes and for hotels, puohc houses
warehouses; offices, aud shops was about - gallons
per head per day; while under the con
slant seryicer-whch, however. c0uld not
De maintancd-t was ascertaincd to be ABOUT 81
gallons Before the end of 1873 the waste lad been
so far checked by the new system that constant
supply was given, and the quantity taken is now
only about.15 gallons per head per day." tlhe fore
qoinr figures do not include the water sold by vol
uue To the larger manufactures and by assessment
to certain trades and water for public and sanitary
purposes all of which, spread over the whole popu-
lation OF GlO.O0O persons, is equivalent 10 ABOUT
seven gallons per head per day. Ihe saving 70 the
Citv of Liyerpool has a money value calculated at
cost price. of 5000, 600 in gold per year.
In the CITY of Glasgow the average consumption
was j22lo gallons per head per day, until tho waste
water meters were introduced against the ADVICE ol
the CITY Engineer, who claimed that the olHiuui-
ties TO be overcome in the peculiar way the pipes
had been laid were insurnountable, ana nc went so
far - 70 place himself on record to that effect be-
fore the Institute of Civil Engineers. FROM
recent report of the same engineer it appears tha1
,l,o oo,,s,,,,tio, hos becn brought down TO 30