Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-17

Our Unsatisfactory Water Supply

Our Unsatisfactory Water Supply.
The Superintendent Of the City Water
WORKS assures US that the scarcity of water
fclt in many elevated localities here is not
duo to the lows level of water maintained
IN the reservoirs. He SAYS that with the
AID Of the steam pump the reservoirs have
been kept full Tor months. and that the
great loss ofpressure at high points - due 70
the use aud waste Of water on premises ut
lower Observation-Disclosures supplied from
the same water mains which furnish the
high points. By natural laws the water
runs out at these open fixtures at lower
elevations.
That there Is grea. scarcity Of water at
these high points Superintendent BOILING
recognizes. aud tor years past he has urged
that steps be taken to provide those con-
sumcrs with tho water they need.
There are two methods Of doing this :;
]. Lay "a large supply-main from the city
10 the New reservoir aud increase and re-
arrange some Of the distributing mains IN
tho city. 2 Put watcr-meters into general
Use.
n tho first plan IS adopted more water
will be- drawn FROM the reservoirs than Is
now drawn. and as we have already reached
our MAXIMUM pumping capacity IT Will
become absolutely necessary that we
should also add to our pumps and pump
mans. Otherwise wa shall he unable to
Le.p the reservoirs full.
Superintendent BOILING assures us that
action looking 20 ono OF other of these
solutions must be taken at once. other
wise there will be water famine, IL will
taEo eighteen months 10 complete the
work OF building pumps and laying
mains" All Of which information he has
given 20 tho proper authorities IN his re-
ports for years past.
From these facts II appears positively
that the reservoirs are only kept full now
ly theuse of the steam pump for two or
three duvs IN each week; that this ex-
padient affords o1ly partial relief: that
by breakdown Of any of or ma
chinory all high points m tins city
would become subject 10 "A prolonged
water famine. ana that despite Mr..
Bonuses urgent warnings and conhr-
matory reports from the Committee on
Water the City Council neglects or re-
fuses 10 act-that. too, after the experience
of last summer and of last winter, on both
If which occasions there was imminent
danger of water famine here. Now we
are at the threshold of another hot season,
and the danger il again approaching US.
This will not do at all The Council must
net. Ii must not wait b be moved by ce
people: il ehould lead the people.
TO mako additions t. the pumping
plant and lay new mains would cost $751;
50l-a sum which Richmond Is not pre-
pared to spend.
Clearly, then, if we wish to furnish resi-
dents of high points in the city with
water al all hours we shall have IL adopt
the meter system. The choice Is between
adopting that system and plunglng into
debt TO enlarge our water-works. About
Fifty other cities and towns IN this country
have adopted the water-meter system and
why should not we?
To show the enormous waste of water IN
Richmond 1t is only necessary to state
that in 1890 our consumption was 1913 gal
Ions por capita per diem. In 1870 1t was
but "A 2-5 gallons. Efforts to stop this
fearful waste are unavailing. As the open
faucet is closed when the wateT-inspector
enters the house.
We must face this question promptly.
1t is not 10 be evaded or postponed any
longer. Water-meters afford us tho only
remedy which we are prepared 10 adopt
now. To talk about spending S3s4,o00 on
new pumps and wster-mains. while the
City Hall is still unfinished, is TO suggest q
move which would prove to be blow &c
our credit. Besides. water-metcrs serve
other communities very well. and Super
intendent BOILING. who has given the
subject intelligent and unwearying study,
is Of the opinion that they will prove salts
factory to us. and hence he recommends
the adoption of the meter system.
Remember. that the officer whose posi-.
ton entities and compels him TO speak on
the subject says; Action must be taker
OF once; otherwise there will be water
famine