Arizona republican., 1910-06-10
EDUCATION
 0F THE CITY Mesa Getting Used to Water
 Service
 q II IS AN UPHILL PULL Water Board, However, Is Patient and Persistent and Relations Are Grad ually Coming to Be Un- derstood
II IS AN UPHILL PULL

The Mesa city waterWorks system 1 is paying expenses and it is estimated by the first of the new year that the revenues will be equal to all expenses and interest on the investment How ever, the casual reader will hardly un- derstand just what it has taken in ar gument, persuasion and exhortation' on the part of the water board and the superintendent of the system to bring about the desired results. The position of superintendent in respect to pleasantness in. the performance of his duties has not been greatly at va riance with that of the dog catcher The superintendent in the perform ance of his duties has been compelled to sever the ties of friendship and col lect water rentals. The residents Of Mesa are not at all different from any other town which has never had the luxury of a water system. The practice for the past several years has been to go out to the well in the back yard and use all the water that one cared to pump and not be re- minded that every swallow was regis tered by meter. Then there are de- tails in the regulating of a water sys- tenn that to all appearances are rather tightly drawn. The next door neigh hor who has been using water out cf the well does not have that permis- sion now unless arrangements are made with the water board. Then again when one gets ready to leave town or if one lives in a rented house the water board must be notified when the house is vacatel or when one leaves the city for any length of time. This becoming educated to the multitudinous details found tucked here and there in the ordinance per taining to the government and main tenance of the Mesa water work sys- tenn is an arduous undertaking
 Last month a sort of an inspection was started to determine just to what extent the ordinance or parts of the ordinance were being violated and the board found ample results. The board has committed the ordinance to mem- ory and at once glance can tell whether a subscriber violating three sections of the law or may be only two. The subscriber has received a copy of the ordinance but the chances are that it was never read for it like most of the ordinances is as interest ing as government statistical report with just as happy results.
 Last month approximately 3,100,000 gallons of water were pumped or 100,- 900 gallons per day.
 There are two sections of the ord- nance which the board is very de3ir- ous should be read and understood by every subscriber one relating to the neighbOrly custom of giving water to all the hydrantless families within a block. The other relates to the dis continuance of water service. How ever, the sections are as follows:
 Sprinkling.
 Section 23-Street or yard sprink- lers shall not be converted into hy- drants, jets or fountains nor be al- lowed to run to waste, but must be kept closed, except when in use sprinkling. No premises shall be sprinkled except those that are as- sessed for water rent or metered. Hydrants Accessible to the Public
 Section 24-No hydrant, bib or hosel attachment shall be placed in any yard or area of any premises so sit uated as to be accessible to persons living in or occupying, neighboring premises unless the owner of the premises first named becomes respon- sible for and pays the water rent for | all persons using water therefrom. A 1 separate rate will be charged for each | separate house, store or premises sup | piled, and if supplied through one pipe or. meter, all rates must be paid | sn one bill by the party upon whose | premises the service first enters.
 Disseminating Use of Water.
 Section 25-Any person wishing to | discontinue the use of water supplied l by the water department must give | notice thereof at the office or the | charge for water will be entered until | such notice has been given.
 Another feature is that all rentals | are due on the 1st of every month | and, if not paid by the 10th of the month, the water service will be shut off