Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-08-14

The growth and popularity of the
ietered water service in Wilmington is
remarkable. Several years ago the water
vneter was scarce article, but now it
8 to be found everywhere. For several
Years the Water Department made
thorough test of the praoticability of
3llacing meters in dwellings and the
lkst was sufficient to warrant their in
A&oduction. 1t was slow work at first,
szi the people knew very little about
HE meter system, but now 1T has be
Hbme very popular and last year about
4 % meters were placed in dwellings,
#nd as yet the department has not re-
&eiyed a single complaint therefroni.
Many cities are metering their entire
5ptput Dayton, o., which has popu-
ftion of about Sc, 600, trifle more
#pan Wilmington, has $3.50 meters in
HE, having installed 1919 last year.
HI the total service 60 per cent is
Ehetered. Reports from cities in differ
@nt parts of the country show that
gghere the entire service is metered
Ahose cities find it advantageous, as
Tbey are thus enabled to control the
supply. The meters prevent waste of
water and readily detect fixtures that
*lre out OF order. They also show leaks
pphFA piD0os L hb dHHuhl TtUpTL Oh
&Sayton's water plant states that from
~ experience Of other cities Dayton
n lis it fortunate that the city owns,
II trolls and sets it's own meters, as in
A case on Wilmington.
n representative of the local Water
III artment in speaking OF the matter,
Al the introduction of the meter put
N hetus on all controversies and com
NJ ats in reference to the non use of
in appliances. The meters enable
Fater consumers to have all of the
NJ ances they may desire as matter
IN hvenIence, which need not increase
* Expense for the use of the water,
wen if it does they know that they
lying a certain rate therefor, not
NJ Hing 10 cents per 1000 gallons,
II is a very low rate for domestic
N Pmpared with the large cities in
n buntry.
minimum water rent by meter
N frement is $40 per annum and is
u according to the size of the
as follows: Five eighths of an
N $40; three-quarters, Sl5; one
n & 500, &c. The minimum of $40
arrows the consumption of 300 gallons
per diem, which, if carefully used,
Mould not be exceeded. The meter
II ITS are payable one-half in January
N one-half in July, in advance,
NJ Iugh some renters prefer to pay
N minimum in January in full. II
N exceed the minimum quantity of
N q the department sends them bill
II khe balance at the end OF each
X ter. The small meters are read
W, month and the large ones
her,
be department now has about |, 900
IRIS in service. They we're first in
sahced in manufacturing establish
ynents; then in business places and now
bin dwellings. All manufacturing es-
Establishments, large business houses,
saloons, stables where 10 horses or
more are kept, flats, largo boarding
houses, hotels and similar buildings
have been placed in the meter class.
During the past year there has been an
Unusual demand by owners OF dwell
jngs for meters, about 100 applications
Ihaying been received since the first of
last December. Some who tried the
Vleters as an experiment have had the
Etment meter all of their houses.
4 the lhe man made application for
ga houses at one timc.
fowler system not only prevents
h SOL water, but also necessitates
tba plumbing. which, while ex-
b buIi the initiative, is much more
delal in the end. As the depart
Y Svns and controls the meters it
K tao charge for installing them.