Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-03
A WASTE OF WATER
mat Adds Greatly to the Burden of
the Pittsburg Taxpayer.
A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR METERS.
The City of Boston, With Four Times the
Number of Consumers,
NEEDS LESS WATER THAN PITTSBURG
A STRONG ARGUMENT FOR METERS.
NEEDS LESS WATER THAN PITTsBURG

The report OF George ii. Browne, super
intendent of the Bureau of Water Supply
and Distribution, for 1883, has been SUBJ
mitted to the Chief of the Department of
Public Works. 1t contains some very in
teresting information concerning the city's
waterworks and pertinent advice from the
superintendent relative 10 the waste of
water by citizens.
The report begins by calling attention to
the necessity of liberal appropriations each
year, and for an argument therefor shows
that during 1885 the estimated revenue from
the Water Bureau from all sources was
$40, 400, while that of 1890 is S5S2, 423.
Chief Browne continues:
To keep pace with the demand due to the
present growth of the city, the appropriation
for pipe extension must be increased; The
water mains must be increased in order to pro-
vide steady and unremitting supply both for
domestic purposes and fire protection. Inc
money used for these objects must not. how
ever. be considered an expense. but as WeI-
invested capital, producing better and surer
returns than could he derived from any other
investment, as careful comparison OF de-
tailed expenses of this bureau with that OF the
returns of the Bureau OF W ater Assessment
will thoroughly demonstrate. II is to be hoped,
however that In making the appropriations Tor
1890. no parsimomous penny WISE anu
pound FOOLISH pOllcy VIII De puISueu. but .hHA'
the entire amount asked for-S32O, ,45O-wlll be
cheertully granted, as matter of sound busl-
ness policy.
GROUNDS FOR COMPLAINT.
The well-grounded complaints coming from
the Sixth. Fourteenth and Twenty-third wards,
from year 10 year, are well known. This is a
matter IN which not only the Councilmen from
these wards. but the members individually and
collectively, should be interested. The object
of the present 3O-inch line laid from The reser-
voir to Roup street is to remedy the evil COM
planned of, but in order to do so it is abso-
lutely essential that it should be continued in
sections of q inches and 20 inches to Smith
field street.
Under the head of the Brilliant Pumping
Station, Superintendent Browne calls stten-
tion TO No. 8 engine Nos. l, . and t were
provided with new valve chambers and
foundation plates in 1883, and are to-day as
good as ever. In 1882 No. 5 was fitted up
with new valve chambers, but the old
foundation plate was not removed. This
needs attention at once, as the chambers
have been working loose, and by the con-
tnual motion have finally cracked. No. 3
should be repaired as the other engines
were.
MIR. Browne urges that S., 900 by set aside
for fitting up a machine shop. In his
bureau there is a great deal of repair work
that cannot be economically handled by the
present. system, The other bureaus OF the
Department OF Public Works have an in
creasinC amount of this kind of work, and
he suggests that a shop be established for the
entire department.
Another suggestion is that incandescent
lights be used IN the engine rooDs and
boiler house. The old Brush arc light ma
chine has outlived its usefulness, but the
engine is still good and could run the other
system.
- - The superintendent recommends, also, that
a residence be built for the chief engineer of
the pumping station, as his presence is oftsu
required in times OF emergency.
IN VERY BAD SHAPE.
The gates at the effluent and inf1uent
chambers of the Highland reservoir are in
such condition that if it were necessary to
shut off either compartment the gates could
not be operated. In their construction the
future was not looked to, and this is the
cause for this condition of affairs. These
gates must be replaced, but it will be both
difficult and expensive to do so and keep an
uninterrupted supply Of water.
At the Heron Hill pumping station Sup
erintendent Browne first recommends that
fence be constructed, to inclOse the grounds.
A number of repairs are needed in and
about the building. He recommends some
changes in the Craig street and other lines
that will give better service east of that
street and south of Fifth avenue.
On the waste water question Superintend-
ent Browne unburdens himself. He SAYS:
One prolific source of waste water is due to
improper plumbing. No attention is paid to
the best points to locate service pipes in order
TO prevent freezing, the only point usually con-
sidered being the most economical location-or
r,f of
the smallest amount of pipe and fittings. The
general result of such work is that during the
winter water is allowed to run off and waste
IN order to prevent freezing. To such an
tent is this abuse carried, that during the
winter months the amount of water consumed
is frequently as great and often in excess, OF
the amount used in summer, when the lawn
and street sprinkling abuse is at the zenith
There are only two ways to accomplish saving
viz: A house-to-house inspection, or the use of
meters. The latter meets with my unqualified
approval. both for the sake Of economy and re-
liability.
THE INFLUENCE OF EXAMPLE.
The indIscriminate use OF water by the
Bureau Of Highways and Sewers has educated
the people generally to believe that the supply
of water is inexhaustable. Acting presumably
under this belief, lawn sprInklers are started in
operation early in summer, and continue al
most without interruption, day and night, until
the temperature gives unmistakable evidence
that autumn has well advanced. The pave
wash also starts. and in spite of protests and
prosecutions. throws an almost continuous
stream throughout the season. Street hydrants
are turned on, but it seems to be no ones
duty to shut them of. Buggies wheel
barrow, and other vehicles are often
Gets in livery stables and other establish
ments are allowed to run continuously IN sum-
mer to insure cool water. and in winter to pre-
vent freezing. Can ii, therefore, be a matter
of surprise that our consumption is many times
greater than the majority of cities throughout
the world? Or, that owing to our peculiar
typography, it is found difficult to afford a
uniform or equitable distribution? The Ques-
tion would naturally arise, "Why. not stop this
wholesale waste OF Water?" 1t is Simply
answered by saying that the law is inadequate
and what laws do exist are apparently over
looked.
Superintendent Browne quotes the ordi-
nance of March II, 1872, imposing a fine for
wasting water and making it the duty of the
public officer on the beat to bring the infor-
nation. He says that if this ordinance was
enforced it would save his bureau r,uch
money and time. Without neglecting their
other duties the patrolmen could give him
valuable assistance by giving warning TO
offenders who waste water and notifying the
bureau from the nearest patrol box.
SHOULD BE RESTRICTED.
Mr.. Browne holds that the use of pave
washes SnOulu De restricted to certain hours
and to the premises paying for them.
Where other premises adjoining are given
the benefit they should be assessed. The
size of nozzles should be fixed and the assess
ments levied accordingly. But. above all,
meters should be introduced. In Hoboken.
n. j., in 1882, the population was 80, 600;
the number o. service pipes was 200, and
the average number of gallons per service
l .455. In 1888 the population was 10000;
service pipes, $500, and the average reduced
TO 759 gallons by the introduction of meters.
The customers had increased 10Y per cent
Il aE cnI,SI,r,,.,d &