Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1910-11-21
What the Southern City Has Acco-
mplished With Its Own Water
System in Eight Years

very clearly that municipality ca.
manage It's own affairs quite as eco
| nomically and profitably as can pri
vate corporation, ii not, indeed, Will
| better results
| Condition of Water Works in 1902
when the works were acquired by
! the city from the old water company
in February, 1902. they wer enotori-
ously inadequate to meet even the
conditions OF demand for water as
they existed The old company S
franchise expired in 1893 and for sew
eral years, in anticipation of the
event the company avoided all possi-
bic expenditures for extensions or
renovations. Following the date of
the expiration OF the franchise. the
city and the company were plunged
into a protracted term OF. litigation
that lasted nearly four years during
which time Improvements were sus-
pended in every way possible. In the
meantime, the city was growing in
population and at an unparalleled
rate, the result being that when the
city finally became possessed OF the
work, their condition was such as to
be a positive menace to her saefty.
There were extensive districts in the
more elevated portions OF the city
where the water supply was almost
wholly suspended during the periods
Of greatest consumption. The reser-
voirs were few in number and too
small in capacity to perform the fun
ctions for which they were intended.
Two. portions OF the city were snrfli-
cd by work, still remaining i'll tnf
hands OF private companies. Il
TO make matters still worse, an
condition OF drouth
had existed in all Southern California
for a period of FIVE or sin years. pre-
ccding his date, TO such an extent
that the Los Angeles River, which
was the sole source Of supply for the
city. had begun to shrink Ill volume at
an alarming rate. This situation had
TO be met by the installation OF eN-
pumping works that proved
heavy tax on the resources OF the
Water Department. and 10 add still
iurtner to the embarrassment, the in
dux OF population and the rapid set
clement of outlying residential dis
tricts became greater than ever in the
city's history.
Growth of Population
'In 1902 the city had population
Of approximately 10000 and was
adding over 800 new taps, represent
inc a population of 1900 or 1000 addi-
Lional inhabitants, per month he
theory OF expectancy on which the
new system was devised. was an add
ed population OF 10000 per annnnl.
II was very soon realized, however,
lnat even this seemingly liberal al
Iowance for growth would prove III
adequate. As matter OF fact the ca
pacitv Of the trunk line mains as they
now exist, is fully 50 per cent greater
than that contemplated in the ulti-
mate development OF the plans OF
1902. This, OF course, can be partly
accounted for by the acquisition by
the city Of the two privately owned
works before referred to and which
are now supplied through the main
lines of the general system.
Installation of Meters
1T being now obviously impossible
TO relieve the situation Of the poor
water supply with anything like the
promptness required, the expedieni
OF checking waste by the use OF me
tiers was resorted to. 1t was observ
ed that the rate OF consumption OF the
city was more than 800 gallons per
capita during the summer months.
and hall OF this was waste. Meters
in large numbers were therefore ap
piled where this waste was most man
;fest and the results proved most
gratifying, as not alone was the wa
ter saved, but the tax on the pipe
system in delivering the water, was
relieved. The policy OF adopting ?
universal meter system was then
adopted by the Board. This policy at