New-York tribune., 1900-10-07
CITY's WATER PROBLEM.
QUESTION OF WASTE SUGGESTED BY
GREAT INCREASE IN DAILY
CONSUMPTION

While the average daily consumption Of water
in Manhattan and The Bronx has increased from
over 25oO0O,OOO gallons day in 1899 10 over 20
O10COO gallons q day in 1900. and the average in
crease in daily consumption for future years IS
being estimated by the Department of Water Sup
Div at about 20 600 900 gallons the officials Of the
Department persist in the declaration that the
actual waste Of water by leakage from the pipes
IS only about per cent Of the entire consumption
Commissioner Dalton and Chief Engineer Birdsal
declare that leaks in the water mains are sure 70
show at rhe surface, and may thus be detected
Their declarations are disputed by many engi-
neers who have had TO direct the digging OF exca-
yations for subways and Conduits in the streets.
These engineers say that wherever excavations
are made in the streets the water pipes are found
10 be leaking and that the water escapes into the
sewers without showing at the surface.
The testimony Of the men engaged in the con-
structon OF several OF the small parks Of the city
is 10 the effect that the water escapes from the
pines that formerly connected houses on the site
Of the parks with the water mains. and that the
water finds its way TO the sewers through the
sewer connections that were left unclosed when
the houses were torn down. Superintendent How
ard who had charge of the construction Of the
Hamilton Fish Park. has asserted that many mill
ions of gallons of water allowed 10 10
waste in the sewers every day in the city and that
the waste Is increasing.
LARGE WASTE IL HOUSES.
In addition to such large waste, there IS the
larger waste Of water every day in the thousands
Of houses 10 which water is supplied regular
yearly rate without check upon the amount used
Faucets in many houses are allowed 10 remain open
10 keep the water cool IN summer and 10 prevent
the water from freezing in winter. and the water
Is thus wasted in enormous quantities. Leaks II
the house pipes are neglected. because the waste
of the water costs the householder nothing. Chief
Engineer BirdsaH has been asserting for long
time that most Of the waste Of water IN the city
could be stopped BY the general use OF water me
ters He said a Tribune reporter:
There are about forty thousand water meters in
suners OF water, in factories and business houses
by the meters is about 100000 gallons. leaving
over 200000O0 gallons a day that is not measured
BY the meters pay the rate Of 10 cents hundred
cubic ad5 d9e for CTorpn WaIer bS the city If there
was general use OF meters the city would save =
more than double its revenue from the sale OF
water.
When Allan Campbell was Controller OF the city
he decided not 10 renew contract by which water
for the shipping was delivered the piers for the
yearly sum Of $4,000 Water meters were connected
with all the pipes al the & a0Gks py GFaer h nn1 9I 9
through the meters. The results OF the change
boat owners used as much water as before, but
paid less for IT, and instead OF receiving 5000
Wear from the men who used the meters An aver
daily waste OF tnree nnIllloh sailSIs ol ws'g go -
Ised At one dock alone a leak in the water pipe
had been "as'lhs twenty ''e ~
day.
SOME sUGG EsTIONs ABOUT METERS
John c Trautwine. jr.. Chic, OF the Water Bs-
reau in Philadelphia, made a report 10 the In
gfneers- Club In Philadelphia some time ago in
favor OF applying meters 70 the pipes IN houses
bere water is wasted. His report contained the
following suggestions. which engineers have con
sidered interesting:
In the first place. 10 is not proposed 10 apply the
meter TO all dwellings. but 20 those only wAeFe