The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-08-10
TO MEASURE OUR WATER
AND PAY ron ONLY WHAT WE USE.
A system of Meters Would, According to
the Superintendent Report. he Great
Saving 10 the citizens and the City.

At the meeting Of the Board OF Aldermen
on Monday evening the Committee on
Water, through their chairman. Dir. ]. w.
White. submitted a report on communica.
ton from Henry L. Pelouze and other citi-
gems 10 tho neiehborhood north of Broad
street and between Seventh and Twelfth
streets, complaining Of the scarcity Of water
in that locality.
As stated in yesterdays TINS the com
mittee recommended tho introduction OF
water meters as the best means 10 remedy
the evil. The report and accompanying
papers we're laid over until the next regular
meeting IN order that they might be printed
for the more intelligent use Of the members
OF the Council.
A STATEMENT.
The report Of tho committee included tho
following statement made 70 Mr. White by
Mr. Charles H. Boiling superintendent Of
the City Water-Works:
The petition Ot many citizens of Madi-
son ward presented by Mir. H. T. Reeve
asking your consideration for giving them
more water. ia before YOU. and is but repo-
tition of n similar one presented last wear.
The signers of this petition are not the only
sufferers for there are many others living
on hugh points who are Just as mucn in need.
D There 10 no denying the fact that these peO-
pie are sufferers and 10 rs due 20 the rapid
decrease IN pressure. lOu will remember
that this matter was fully examined into
last year and full and comprehensive re-
port With recommendations for relief was
made 80 the time by the Committee on
Water. 4 again submit that report to your
committee and urge the importance and
necessity OF the City Council taking some
steps % carry out the recommendations
made by the Committee on Water at the
time.
AT TIE RESERVOIR.
The reservoir has been kept up to high
water mark during the entire spring and
summer so there has been no lack of head
ITO accomplish THIS our new water pumps,
which are 10 first-class condition. have been
ran 90 nearly their full capacity, pumping
80 the rate OF eleven million gallons in
twenty-fOur hours; the old pumps have de-
lyered water at the rate Of four million
gallons IN twenty-four hours. The waste
of water ~ the city has increased and
hence the falling of IN pressure IN the city,
for the water is run ont OF the mains as fast
as it Is put in. At this present time the
river IS so low that the old pumps cannot
keep.Marshall reservoir full. so that we have
had 90 run the steam pump 10 keep up the
supply. Ia other words we are working
our entire pumping capacity TO meet the
demand. This IS risky for should anything
happen there would be great scarcity of
water. and it is absolutely necessary that
appropriations should be made 10 increase
our pumping facilities and to lay larger
mains 10 the CITY 70 supply the demand for
more water. The approximate estimate of
this cost Is S354,5Ol.
STOP TIE WASTE.
The other alternative is 30 stop the
waste. After making comparison with q
large number Of authorities. which are
aDundanty supplied, j unhesiIatingly say
that five and a half million gallons per day
would amply supply our city, and yet we
are using fifteen millions. There Is no way
can see 10 stop this waste but by the gen
eral introduction OF meters; they result in
q saving 90 the city and to the water taker
For illustration, l will give the bills by
meter and by ordinance of the following
persons using meters for the past SIX
months. n. d. HargrOve, by ordinance,
$500 by meter, S5.71. G. J.. Hill, by Ordi-
nance, $3.50; by meter, S2.14. j. W.
White, by ordinance. 500; by meter,
e2Z5. Il. O.. Lucas. by ordinance. $3.50; by
meter, 500. Many others might be given.
but ] think these sufficient 20 show that the
water bill will be less 20 the water taker. l
can therefore but repeat the recommenda-
tions contained ia my report OF October,
1901, and 10 impress upon the committee
that something must be done either 70 stop
the waste or % furnish additional pumping
machinery and water-mains. AT the present
rate Of consumption. should any serious ac-
cideut happen 20 the machinery, our city
would have q scant supply. The case Of
our city is not an isolated one but the same
thing has occurred in many other cities, and
invariably relief has been given by the adop-
ton of the meter system
ANOTHER REPORT.
This statement of Mr. Boiling was accom-
panied by q report on the same subject pre-
Rented 20 the Common Council on Novem-
Der 2. 1891. This report, on which no ac-
ton bad been taken by the former Council,
contains the following interesting facts
Ia accordance with your Instructions /
beg TO submit the following report in re-
gard to the existing low pressure of water
at various points 10 the city, on account OF
which anumber OF our citizens fail to get any
water 10 their water fixtures located on the
second floor of their dwellings. ] also sub
init certain estimates of cost of water-mains,
which would be necessary to bring larger
quantity of water to the city aud present
recommendations whereby relief may be
given. would invite your attention hrst
70 the following table, which gives the COM
parision Of the pressure at various locations
in the city 40 this time. with the pressure at
the same points two years ago, IN order that
you may see al a glance how great ana fast
has been the decrease of pressure.