The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-07
TO PUT IN WATER METERS.
The Water Commission Authorizes
That step.

The water Commission Authorizes
That step.
The water commission practically adopt
ed the meter system at it's meeting in the
afternoon. The superintendent was au-
thorized to put in meters at his discre-
ton whenever and wherever he deems it
best for the water department. This
means that a good many meters will be
put in. Supt. Lotion Is thoroughly COM
mitted to the meter system. He believes
that the water works IS pumping en-
tirely too much water and that the only
way OF stopping the waste is to put in
meters and compel the consumers TO pay
for water according to the amount USED.
Rules We're adopted by the commission,
giving the superintendent authority to
so ahead and put in meters These rules
are published in tO-day's Morning News
for the information of the public. When
a consumer is ordered to put in a meter
by the superintendent and fails to comply
with the order the water Is to be shut Off
from his premises and not turned on
again until the order Is complied with.
The meters used are to be according
TO standards prescribed by the board.
They must either be purchased from the
department or submitted to the superin-
tendent to be tested and examined be-
careful to state that this is not done for
the purpose Of making a profit on the
sale OF the meters, but to insure thar
proper meters are put in. there being a
number of worthless makes on the mar
ket.
The meters will be put in by the depart
ment and the cost of putting them in must
be paid by the property owner. When
ever possible, meters are to be placed in
the sidewalk, within twenty-fouF inches
of the curb line The dial of the meter
more than fourteen inches from the level
of the sidewalk. The meter must be
cover, to be furnished by the water works
department. When il is not possible to
set meter in sidewalk, It must be placed
in such manner as may prescribed by the
superintendent.
When written application for meter
to be furnished and set is received from
a property owner, the department will fur
nlsh ana set meter in water pipes leading
to the premises at cost, and if the ex-
penses of furnishing and setting the meter
are not paid within ten days after bill
for same has been rendered, then the
water will be shut off from the premises
and not turned ON until the bill has been
paid. The object of the department set
ting the meters is to have them set prop
erly and uniformly.
Six official meters were adopted by the
board, as follows: The Thompson, Hersey,
Bufalo, Crown, Gem and Nash. The
property owner viii be given the choice
of any one of the six. Supt. Lotion stated
TO Morning News reporter that he
would secure quotations on these meters
from the manufacturers and that the me-
tiers would be furnished to the property
owners at cost. The cost of meters secur-
GU III TINS way, ne SAID, would be mucn
less than If property owners undertook
to buy their own meters.
The work of putting in meters will be
carried forward gradually" said the su-
perintendent. 1T is out of the question
to put in meters by wholesale, and so they
will only be put in at first where they
appear to be most needed. The meters
viii in many instances prove an advan-
tage TO the property owner. Many peo-
pie are paying four times as much for
their water as they ought Others are
paving one-fourth what they should
The water rate where meters are used
is 10 cents per 1000 gallons, less 10 per
cent. discount If paid by the 10th of the
month. Special rates will be made 10
large consumers using water for special
purposes.
The idea of putting meters" said Supt.
Lotion, lis not to increase the revenue
from the water department, but to stop
the waste of water.
Supt. Lotion was reelected by the board
for the term of two years. The water
commissioners know a good man when
they see him and they made no mis-
take in Supt. Lotion. He is deeply in
terested in his work and is always on
the watch for any opportunity to improve
the service of the department