The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-06-20
THE WATER WE DRINK.
EXTRACTS FROM THE ANNUAL RE-
PORT OF THE
He SAYS We Have Been Face to Face Too
often with Water Famine and That
Something Must he Done.

The annual report Of the superintend-
ent Of the City Water Works to the
Mayor has just been printed. The fol-
lowing facts are culled therefrom:
The whole amount Of appropriation to
the department for the year was S5l,6sl.2o'
This expenditure includes the expenses
of the department and the cost Of pipe
extensions and house supplies. The &C.
tual cost Of maintenance and repairs was
$3.50. a decrease from the amount *
pended the preceding year Of $2%6l5.
The total receipts from all sources
amounted 70 slH .sl103. an increase over
the preceding year Of S6953.54. The pres
ent Indebtedness Of the city for eXpendi-
lures in water-works will aggregate ABOUT
one million OF dollars. which includes the
cost Of several large tracts or Valuable
land. now used for parks but charged
against the water-works. NO large APP
preparation has been made TO this depart
ment since 1890 when the New pump
works were commenced. The receipts Tor
water that year were S3,0s696; now
Sln. s103 The time has come when some
thing must be done. We must either
build more pumps and lay larger mains
both for supply and distribution, or nut
IN water meters 10 stop the waste. The
cost Of the nrst-namely pumps and
mains-is estimated at 100000. and Il g
cost Of metering the city about SZZOWO'
if the city purchases the meters. The eXpe-
rience Of the past shows us that If We de-
eide 10 make the additions 10 the pumps
and mains that we would again be called
on in about ten years 10 make another
appropriation for increase. From what 1
see from the reports OF other cities which
have had similar experience, and have
now the meter system, our present works
would supply q population twice as large
as ours. provided they were kept up IN
frst-class order. Recent experience has
plainly shown the necessity Of doing
something. as we have been face TO face
with water famine, and the danger. de-
struction and suffering which this means
needs no portrayal"
Continuing the subject Of meters, SUI
perintendent Boiling says:
1--WE have now I'm use 255 meters, an in
crease Of sixty-nine over last year Those
put in this year have been at the request
and cost Of the water taker, and have
given general satisfaction both 10 the
manufacturer and for domestic use, as
their water bills are less than by the
ordinance rate for fixtures. There have
been only one or two complaints Of high
bills and upon Investigation IN each case
n leaky pipe was the cause Of the in
crease Of the bill. our own experience
with the water meter has been salts
factory. and the reports from many larger
cities. which have I'm late years adopted
the meter system. clearly prove how ben
edcial the meter IS 10 the works, and
that Il is the proper ana equitable way
TO charge for water; consumers then only
nay for what they use. The meter saves,
too the constant addition to pumps ana
mains Our present rates for water by
meter measurement scaling from seven
TO fifteen cents per ] 900 gallons. allo"
the abundant use Of water without heavy
cost but stops the waste. Each meter
makes the consumer an inspector, who
will use abundanty bur not waste use
lesslv. The average saving 10 the water
taker who has a meter mas been ABOUT
one-third Of his bill by fixture charge.
AS 10 the quality Of the water he says:
1.-THE water furnished has been good
and wholesome. though at times discol-
ored. Such a full report was made last
year on this subject. in which was given
the reports and analyses OF several ox-
perts. that II is unnecessary 10 add more.
/ still urge my former recommendations
for the construction Of large clear water
basin above the New pump-house' TO be
siiplied by a conduit carried 10 the river
nj a poiut near the Five-Mle lock. This
intake would then be above all the quar-
ries and settlements on the south side,
and would be cut off from all land drain
age. small streams, etc Including TUCK
ahoe creelO, on the north side. Tor a
distance OF ten miles above the New
pump-house except a small tract Of low
grounds sparsely cultivated.