Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-03-12

Following is a copy Of the letter written
r., Chief Engineer Lessen of the Water
Sonsrtment to parties in Philadelphia
in reply to inquiry as to the advsabllity
af installing water meters in Philadel-
Mia. In the letter Mr.. Leisen gives some
intoresting information being "a history
ol the meter system here from the time
ri n, inception The letter is as follows
As preface to my answer to your
several questions ! may say that l am
very strongly OF the opinion that for
philadelphia. as well as for any other
etv where the cost of pumping is an
nem of considerable moment, meters
sbonld be installed for the measurement
nj an water consumed, and the charges
for the use Of water should be based on
aid measurement. In the case Of Phila-
denha however, under existing con-
ditIons it might be the better part of Wis
dom 10 proceed more gradually than is
contemplated starting with all manu-
featuring plants hotels, saloons, &C.,
and then taking up the dwellings and
presenting the meter proposition in form
That will be inviting to the average con-
sumer.
which about 1900 are on private dwell
ings.
I'm the effort to check water waste.
meters were Installed, first OH manu-
featuring plants hotels, saloons &c, and
then on dwellings,. In addition care
| fnl inspection has been maintained to
4 discover leaks or arbitrary waste, and TO
| take the necessary measure to prevent
them
Meters are installed in private dwell
hngs by the department upon the request
of the owner The meters are owned by
/ the department. and installed at the de-
mrtment's expense, no charge being
4 made against the property. The cost
10 the city for the meter and its install
4 ation is on the average ten dollars $40.
4 The cost of repairs to meters on dwellings
. is very slight. Many of these meters
have been in for 10 years with practically
no repairs, and are still working salts
actorily.
3-Our minimum charge for a 5-S inch
meter, ,the size most commonly en-
4 ployed for dwellings) is $40 per annum,
with a daily allowance of 300 gallons
4 This quantity seems to be ample for all
4 purposes, and unless there is a consider
able amount of leakage from some Of the
4 fixtures. the minimum is seldom exceeded
Any excess is charged for at the current
4 rates This arrangement enables many
a properties, the schedule rate for which
would be from Sl4 to SIG per annum.
to get the water for So
For large dwellings the meter rates are
as follows: For a 3-4 inch meter, SIS,
and for a l-inch meter $50. On all these
nl,.
4 prompt payment.
4-Ihere are about 2300 meters on
81 dwellings,. all put in at the voluntary re-
F quest of the owner, which would Indicate
that their use is popular. If we had a
lower minimum rate for houses where the
schedule rate is about $40 there would
. undoubtedly be larger demand for meters
from that class.
Taking the period from 1890 0he)
E. year in which meters were FIRST introduced
4 TO 1897, the amount Of pumpage de-
creased from 6,940,000 gallons per diem,
. 10 5,59OO00 gallons, while the population
increased from 81. 500 TO 10000, and the
per capita consumption decreased from
III gallons to rs gallons per diem. This
+ would indicate a saving effected in pump
n age of nearly 0000,000 gallons in the
mtter year, due solely TO the installation
OF meters on manufacturing plants, and
resulting, not in any curtailment Of the
use of the water, butin the elimination
Of waste, and the prevention OF leakage
Had the old conditions continued and the
rate OF consumption per capita remained
the same, the excess in pumpage over th,
actual amount would have been 500. 600.
900 gallons As it costs this depart
ment about six dollars per million gallon:
OF water pumped, the gross saving woulC
equal 81 800 per annum.
The average annual cost of meters TO
the same period was 81, 300, and assuming
I'D per cent as a very liberal rate fol
interest and depreciation the annua
charge against the saving would be S230
or making the net gain 81, $50 per annum
which, capitalized at 4 per cent, mean
net saving of Sl14,250.