The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1880-04-04
THE VA TER QUESTION.

THE VA TER QUESTION.
The solution of the much-vexed water
question proposed by Senator Rollins is in
genious, and is probably the only possible
middle course between an extension of the |
Aqueduct and large increase in the quantity |
of water delivered on the one hand, and |
general Introduction of metres on the other.
Senator Rollins proposes TO make the police |
water inspectors, and this ought te be done
in any event. Then he proposes that house,
holders shall adopt metres, or failing to do |
so, shall be liable to have their premises in
spected without notice, and if found wasting
water, have the pipes so changed that they
can only obtain thirty gallons each day. To
be complete Senator Rollins's bill needs to
'mbody some means of repressing waste in
the public buildings and grounds. 1t is too
broadly assumed that the people are incura-
bly, negligent in using water, and that the
large supply is dssipated entirely through
their wastefulness. The facts are that the
most wanton waste is that for which officers
of the Government are responsible. 1t is
notorious that during the drought Of last
summer, while citizens on the high grounds
were suffering for water to preserve health
and cleanliness, fountains in the public
grounds were kept spouting water-not upon
the sward and shrubbery which were dying
for helack of it-but simply to run to waste.
This was not occasional, but constant, and
was kept up in defiance of the protests of
the community and the press. We hold that
the degree in which the community, as dis
tinguished from the Government, is respon-
sible for the enormous consumption of water
in this city cannot be determined until there
is some way of restricting this insulting,
needless, and wanton waste by public officers.
AS TO the assertion that no system of in
spection will check the waste, SO as to make
it possible to dispense with the odious metre
system, We must insist that il yet remains to
be proved, for there has surely never been
any thorough system ofinspection in operation
in this city, and, as we have pointed out, none
10 possible until II is made TO include public
as well as private buildings and grounds.
A larger police force is urgently needed here.
The duties of water inspection can be per-
formed as efficiently by these officers as by
any others, and by reason of their greater
numbers the waste OF water can be watched
and checked by them 10 an extent not within
the power of any possible corps Of mere
water inspectors.
The plan OF Senator Rollins has the merit
permitting people who will use the water
carefully To 60 on with no other ineon-
venienes than an occasional visit Of inspec-
tion. And pending measures for increasing
the supply IL may be- the best thing TO be
done, provided the statute includes some
means Of repressng waste by officers Of the
Government, who are surely Just as response.
BILE TO Congress as private citizens and ought
TO DO included in the puryiew Of any such
measure as this.
We should not leave the subject however,
without pointing out that nothing has yet
appeared TO change the verde, already made
up in favor Of an extension 81 the Conduit
over all other measures for improving the
water supply. When the experience OF
other oities IL cited 10 prove that repression
is the only remedy, Il should be remembered
that those cities are invariably dealing with a
problem OF an entirely different and far moro
difficult nature-ihe problem Il making a
limited supply, or supply which has to be-
raised by artificial power ~ the required
elevation. Where the supply has to bs
taken from a watershed Of limited area II
is imperative that waste should be restricted.
Here every sanitary reason dictates the de-
sirabiliiy Of diVerting 10 the city and
through our sewers a far greater portion oi
the Potomac than nov hows through them.
without going into detail. our readers will
remember that Ne have demonstrated that
the Aquedaei, by the simple espodien, of a
temporary loan, can bo extended and COM
Pieied without increasing the present rate Of
ta1siion, and whils doing away with the
water ,st besian unequal ons, and waste.
fully large part u which Il absorbed Ia the
expense Of oollegiion. An eKtsnsion Of the
Aqueduei with an ample supply aad un-
taxed water Aro the objects At which every
wise and far-sishied legislator would aim.