The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-13
Claim Users Cripple Water Ser.
vice in the Summer.
SAYS LAW DEMANDS 1T.
Under Commission Plan Rates
Must Be Alike.
Commissioner Miller Claims 1t
Is Necessary.

One-fourth Of the water consumed
in Topeka is on the old-time fiat
rates. If H. P. Miller. city commits
sioner. head of the waterworks de-
partment. succeeds in carrying out his
plans, every water user in the city
Will be on a meter.
If all of the consumers were on the
regulation city meter the water service
in Topeka, Miller says, would be i'm
proved to a great extent. The fire
pressure would be strengthened, the
consumption would be smaller and the
eventual wear and tear on the water
works machinery would be lessened..
Although Commissioner Miller feels
that the receipts would be smaller in
case everyone was placed on q meter
rate, he disregards this feature and is
working for the good of the service.
As fast-and even faster-as the re-
maintenance and the cost of operation
would fall. To give Topeka better
water and quicker water at less ex-
pense is the ambition of the water
commissioner. Mr.. Miller.
1t doesn't seem reasonable that the
water supply should be curtailed. To-
peka ought to have water system
that can supply everyone without
handicap. The meter rate makes lawn
sprinkling impossible, except for the
rich.
According to the records in the Of
nee OF Superintendent Shaw of the
waterworks, there are about 5000 con-
sumers of city watr in this city. Out
OF this 5000 there are at least 1900
VINO use their water on the fiat rate.
In other words, there are 1900 peo-
pie VINO pay so much for their water
rights and then turn the hydrants on
and let them run as long as they wish
without an extra expense of any kind.
This is considered an injustice to
the meter users. Even though the
meter users pay a smaller price for
their water, the service they receive
when they want the water is poorer
than if everyone in the city was con-
nected with register and was using
the water by the tick of the hands.
says Mr.. Shaw.
In the summer time when the
lawns are watered, the city water de-
partment pumps almost 100000 GAL
Ions of water every day. The average
rate in the average weather when the
lawns do not need water is about
100000 gallons a day.
1t will be seen that this great in
crease is caused mostly by the free use
or the nat rate consumers. They have
paid for their water by the month and
use it on their lawns adding greatly to
the beauty of the city.
The laws Of the commission form of
every consumer on the meter plan, says
01r. Miller. This is a rule that was
not in force under The mayor and coun-
Gil.
A majority of tie people who us.
water on tho fiat rate plan are resi-
dence owners-the water is used in the
residences. When the orders are issued
that they take the meter rates there
will be a howl. 1t costs at least SO
to have a meter installed in the home
and very few people are willing to
change their plan at such an expense
and it is not at all surprising. In ad-
clifton to the meter the city requires
a 81 deposit. no one knows why.
1T is absolutely necessary that we
make this change soon" said Commits
sioner Miller today. I'VE should do it
in justice to the people and eventually
it will be done. The state laws pro-
vide for it and they provide that the
expense of the change must fall On the
consumer and not on the city-we have
nothing to say to that.
1T is not the scherle Of the water
company to increase the -evenues-it is
to Increase and better the service. We
want the people of the city to have the
lest water that can be found, have it
in the quickest time and have plenty
CT it. To cut out the fiat rate consum-
ers and make all water users on a me-
ter rate will help along this good
work.
The high price of meters and reuuir-
ing the 81 deposit has been constant
source of complaint. Mr.. Miller might
also prohtably make reform in this
direction.