Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-09-01
THE WASTE OF WATER
THE suPERIsTEHDENT LAYS rHEwar-
TER BEFORE TBS COMMITTEE
he Says This Is Why Water Cannot be
Gotten on Upper Floors, and sug-
gests a Remedy.


ent Boiling, presented at a meeting OF
the Council Committee on Water held
Thursday night, treats Of q subject that
has been much discussed in certain parts
OF the city recently, and what he has to
say will be read with great interest, and
viii convince all that il is no fault Of the
department that residents Of certain ele-
waited portions of the city do not get es
free flow Of water in their upper apart
ments as they might desire:
OFFICE OF CRY WATER WORKS, /
RICHMOND, VA, August so, 1888.
Mr.. j. {. Dickerson, Chairman Of The
Committee on Water:
Dear Sir,-In view of the fact that fire.
quent complaint is now made by a num-
Der OF our citizens that they cannot get
water to the fixtures upon their upper
floors, deem it my duty TO call your at
tenhon to this fact, explain the cause, and
suggest the remedy. | will state that at
no time for the past three years has the
water IN the reservoir been below the
high-wster mark, or reduced to height
that was not sufficient to give full pres
sure, and that our supply mains are Of
sufficient diameter TO bring an ample snp-
ply OF water to the city. The surface of
our streets varies greatly in profile, and
the houses along these streets are stu
ated upon greatly differing elevations.
all supplied from the same Waterman,
fed from the same source there
fore the pressure differs greatly,
and when a large number Of openings
on the lower points are kept constantly
open and running the water will not rise
to the second floor Of houses situated on
higher points.
WATER WASTED.
The whole trouble lies in the waste
now taking place--of no service to any
one-but reckless and useless waste. As
an instance | will state that only few
days ago, after a careful inspection,
found every other house for two con
tinuous squares on four parallel streets
with their fixtures running or leaking on
the grOund-hoOrs. And this was taking
place on the premises of some Of the same
parties who complained they could get no
water on their upper floors IN other
words, on each premises the water was
being wasted at the rate Of three thor
sand cations in twenty-four hours. If
this is allowed to continue we may spend
$500, 600 in additions to cur pumps and
service-pipes, and yet fail to give water.
TIE REMEDY.
The remedy lies in the application Of
meters, careful house-to-house inspec-
ti0n, the substitution of automatic fix
lures for those now in use, and the en-
forcement of good plumbing, In illus
tration of the waste daily going Oh | will
state that We have pumped each day for
the past month 1913, 900 gallons Of
water, or the amount of consumption has
been 1876 gallons per c0pjta per day.
For comparison, see the city of Provi-
dence. With population of 1l7,000,
and with manufactures as extensive as
almost any city, Providence uses from
80 to 80 gallons per head per day. This
includes the water consumed for all pur-
poses manufactures, streetsprinkling,
fires, &c., &c.-and is owing to the fact
that nearly every service is metered,
and to the best kind OF plumbing and
fixtures. / will also quote what Mr..
Tubbs. chief engineer of water-works,
Rochester says in his last annual report.
rs follows: 81 desire again to express rs
my deliberate opinion that the universal
application Of meters to all water-ser-
vices is the only way in which the
fri,teriug away Of the power and useful
ness Of any well-designed and abundant
water-suppIy for city can be epreyented.
PRovGDENCE's EXPERIENCE.
"The experience of the city Of Provi
dence. which has larger proportion Of
its water-seryices metered than any other
city in this country, shows cOnclusively
that n supply of from 35 to 40 gallons
per day per capUa is all that is needed
for all uses, and all that will be used
when the element Of criminal waste Is
eliminated. The great majority Of Anne
rican cities are now wasting from TO
gallons OF water for each gallon which is
employed for any useful purpose, and as
a result in nearly all our cities with
population of 100, coo and over the con-
sumption of water has nearly or quite
reached the full limit of supply, re-
quiring the immediate expenditure of
large sums Of money to increase the ca
pacity of their works" Assuming, then,
the population of Richmond to be 9O,sOO,
and bssing our estimate upon the fact
that 40 gallons per capita IS an ample
supply, the amount required for our
daily use would be 3, 600 900 gallons and
1923, OOO gallons are daily wasted. This
quantity OF water now wasted, if sold
for manufacturing purposes at five cents
per 1000 gallons, would amount to
1927, $40 q year Moreover stop this
waste, and our reservoir could then be
used for what it was deslgned-a set
tling basin, and not be what 1t now IS,
simply passage way for the water from
the river to the city.
Yours, very respectfully,
CHARLES 4. BOILING,
Superintendent.