The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-06-18
WASTE OF WATER
DR.. L. J. Gordon Discusses
the Question of Visible
and Invisible Over
flow.
G. F. DEACON'S METRE SYSTEM
Excellent Results Obtained in
Liverpool by Measuring
the Flow Through
Mains.
G. F. DEACON'S METRE SYSTEM

The Street and Water Boards of this
city have for years been striving to stop
the waste of water and only recently sent
letters to some of the departments urging
economy in the use of water. On this
subject an interesting letter has been sent
to the Editor of this paper from DR.. L. J.
Gordon, who writes as follows
In view of the proposed enlargement OF
our new water supply at an expense OF
$14O, 600, it may be well to consider a 1ew
pertinent facts concerning the relation oil
municipalities to water consumers.
Water is the cheapest civilizing COM
modify supplied by art. AS an illustratlon
the water now furnished Jersey City IS
collected from distant centres conveyed
by costly engineering works and is deliv
cred to the municipality at the rate OF 2S6
gallons for one cent or less than one cent
ton. 1t is little wonder, therefore, that
the quantity used or wasted should De
considered unimportant This, perhaps
might be true were the waste within the
limits of reason, but as existing at the
present time within our own city it be-
comes an evil of the highest Importance
and one that fortunately may be prevent
ed at a comparatively insignificant cost.
If in view of its Importance dwell up
on matters which appear to some persons
as self evident propositions I must do SO
in consideration of the fact that the rudi-
ments of the subject are not generally un-
derstood by the majority of the citizens
and taxpayers.
The present supply as paid for assumes
the consumption by each man, woman ana
child of 175 gallons of water daily. With
out entering into statistics to show the
fanacy of the assumption I would state
that no city in the civilized world can be
shown to actually consume such an
amount of water, and when waste has
been checked by the use of methods now
generally recognized as effectual in ad-
vaneed municipalities the daily consump-
tion per capita does not reach 1-5 OF TINS
amount The lowest price at which water
is resold to the large consumers is at the
rate of 100 gallons for one cent. Some
where a profit is here apparent to the city
between the purchase and resale of water
OF 1856 per cent. Under the circumstances
why does not the water department prove
self sustaining? Let me state that do
not believe it is due to the diversion OF
water income to other than legitimate
purposes. but do believe that the reason
may be found in the statement that over
one-half Gh) of the water supplied to and
paid for the city is wasted, and is there
fore not a source of income to the Depart
rent 1t may be stated in passing that
the city is now paying over one thousand
dollars day to supply water for the use
of its inhabitants, that the quantity sup
piled for this purpose is about 3O,ooOuOo
gallons daily or about 9O0,0O0,00O gallons
month 1t is also idle to speculate upon
the consumption unpaid for by the CITY
Hall, schools and other public buildings
foE were the entire outfit metered It
would, on the basis of shown consumption
as ascertained by placing meters on spec
ial schools ETC., amount to less than TO-
100000 gallons month, which is hardly
worth considering against monthly sup
ply paid for of 900. 600. 1t is certain we
must look in other directions for the solu-
t4on of the problem.
When waste of water is spoken of it is
generally interpreted as unnecessary use
or waste in the mode of use. This in no
way applies to the waste referred to in
this article.
/ am assuming that every householder
has as many taps, baths, toilet rooms.
fountains, sinks. etc., as he desires; that
no restriction be placed upon the quantity
of water he may use; that the help are
careless and that water is at his disposal
day and night when the tap is turned.
The misuse of water under these condi-
tions is termed visible waste
In the waste of water refer to none of
the water used under the above circum-
stances. so that if the whole waste re-
ferred to were entirely prevented the use
and misuse of the meter in the household
would still proceed with impunity.
The prevention of the waste is in no
sense a restriction in the use or misuse OF
water in the household or factory; on the
contrary it would conduce to greater
waste therein by rendering the water
more available under higher pressure and
at all times.
Having thus explained what is meant
by Visible waste 1t is desirable to ex-
plain what constitutes the great waste
spoken of or invisible waste.
Invisible waste is any loss whatever De-
tween the point when the water enters the
reservoir at Belleville and the taps or
other domestic or factory fittings. It is
leakage underground from leading and
distributing mains, leakage in under
ground service pipes and from connections
with distributing mains leakage from dis
registry of metres due to mechanical inn
perfections.
Visible waste is generally above
ground and capable of detection by SUI
perficial examination.
Invisible waste is underground and al
ways incapable of detection by superficial
examination.
The loss from invisible waste is rarely
detected unless SO large an amount as to
tmpoverish the supply to neighboring
houses.
In the case of visible waste, generally
caused by defective house fittings, which
we know are subject to deterioration,
sooner or later. the plumber is sent for
and repairs effected.
Visible wastes are more or less intermit-
tent Invisible waste is constant.
Individual visible waste is generally
small in quantity and under less pressure.
xr1,.. ,,as+ frfond ran give va, no better adj