Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-18

carried out, more careful Inspection
than heretofore given is requisite for the
protection not only Of the city's in
terest, but also that Of the property
owner; moreover, that all plumbers
may be placed on equal footing to
accomplish this, ! now require all
plumbers to report to this Office
all plumbing done for water sup
ply before it is covered up, in order
that it may be inspected and approved.
/ can suggest no better means than
that now in use as to the manner in
which this work is done the cost of
providing the tapping-cock, stop-cock,
and box, and digging the trench is borne
by the city, the plumber furnishing the
pipe laid by our force from the street.
main TO the lot-line, and the plumber
furnishing all the material and labor for
introducing water on the premises. The
exact location Of these branches is care
fully recorded in the Office, and in the
event of accident or injury can be east
ly found. am sure much benefit will
be derived from the inspection above
referred 10. Proper stop and waste
cocks will be required in all houses, and
during cold weather the occupier can
easily shut the water from his premises
and be saved much damsge from burst
ing pipes, and will find this a much
better plan than to allow the water to
run and waste, which now is the gene.
raj rule.
WASTING WATER.
The subject Of wasting water is one
Of such grave importance to us that |
must ask your attention. The average
daily amount Of water pumped during
the year was 1906, l22 gallons. As
suming our population to be 10000, it
shows the rate 10 be III gallons per
capita per day-tNice as much as IS
necessary, ard more than the statistics
show for any other city in the United
States. heartily recommend an
abundant and free use Of water, bat
when it is evident that over 80 per
cent. is being wasted, our pumps taxed
to this great extent, and the city sub
jected to an expense for no purpose
no eltdeiived-the question, " What
is the remedy Z" is at once presented.
The principal source Of waste, so far
as have had the opportunity Of exam
ming, bctrays itself in the large num-
Der Of old.fashoned water-closets.
These are constantly leftrunninc, some
times purPosely by householders, under
tie mistaken impression that they are
cleansing their culyerts and removing
causes for disease, when, on account OF
the vast number Of im'crfcc. traps and
bad plumbing, :hey are hut opening
wide the door to that worst enemy OF
heallh-sewer Gas. In one location last
summer, where the water.pressure is
great, a sufficient number Of closet
woe wasting 70 the extent Of 100000
gallons daily. rendering it impossible to
provide citizens in the higher parts Of
thecity with even the necessary amount,
owing to the rapid flow in the street
mains TO these wide-open vents. The
remedy for this to a great extent is
plaiI-icQuire all parties putting in
watoI-clo-ets to adopt closet after the
pattern of the Demorest, Jennings, OF
some other automatic or Sclfcl0sing
valve, and by degrees replace those now
in use BY such a closet. This last re-
commendation can only be accomplish.
ed by degrees. Il woald be too
heavy a burden or tax TO require
parties to remove these old ones az once.
since they have already complied with
the existing laws. This change Is
necessary even as a health measure.
a AdOpt il and our citizens will soon see
the benefits. and be spared the annoy
ance Of appearing before the Police
Cou,t and fined for wasting water, often
incurred through no fault Of theirs, but
owing to the negligence Of careless ser
wants. If this is not done, our only
remedy is strict enforcement of the
ordinance and penalties Hereunder, for
which We will have TO rely upon the
police. owing to the limited number of
inspectors IN the Department.
Another source Of waste which has
fallen under my observation is street
spIinkhng. The carts are rarely water
tight, and the Or'iices through which
they discharge DO not comply with the
regulation, on account Of which large
quantity Of water is wasted and the
street made so wet that injury is done
the road-bed. Careless drivers con-
stantly leave the water flowing from the
plugs, OF through negligence overflow
the carts. hope TO make correction of
this waste during the coming year. !
trust | may not be misunderstood in
this matter. | most heartily approve
an abundant use Of water for the CON.
fort. health, and cleanliness Of our city,
but when useless waste has reached
such magnitude as now, entailing so
much expense annually, ! deem it my
duty to suggest remedies and bring the
matter TO your attention.
WAIER-METERS.
There are now in use III the city
thirty-ore meters Of different make.
The majority are the Crown meters. and
are giving general satisfaction. Owing
to the sometimes-muddy condition OF
the water and the sediment accruing,
the machinery will become clogged and
fail to register. but this is readily taken
out and cleaned, and they work as
usual. Great improvement has been
made in the water-meter, and in many
cities they are rapidly being introduced
as the only reliable means Of making
correct charges. | would recommend
the purchase Of quite a number; at
least, TO place them on the pipes sup
ply ing manufactures, motors, elevators,
&c. they will also render much assist
ance in detecting waste, and will many
times repay their cost.
PURITY OF WATER.
Such a full and complete report of
the condition Of the water was contained
in the report of the Superintendent Of
water last year, embracing a statement
from the City Engineer of the quantity
delivered by the different tributaries of
our supply, and table prepared by DR..
W. ii. Taylor, the State Chemist, giving