Carson City daily appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1907-1930, 1910-11-21
PUBLIC OWNERSHIP OF
WATER IN LOS ANGELES

7 now accepted by the people general,
in all respects more satisfactory thar
the old fiat rate method.
The beneficial results OF the meter:
at once became apparent and there
has been a gradual reduction in thc
per capita consumption directly pros
| portionate to the percentage OF the
/ taps metered. There are now in use
| about $500 meters out OF the total OF
| about $1,000 active services, and the
maximum rate OF use in the hottest
periods OF the year rarely exceeds lSO
gallons per capita and that only for
perhaps two or three days consecu-
lively
This great reduction in consump-
ton, says Superintendent 'Mulholland
was worth many times the cost OF eff
fecting it, in the deviation OF the ne
cessity of enlarging the mains, The
Improvement OF the pressure was also
result of great consequence, but by
far the greatest benefit came from the
conservation of the water itself, for it
is hard to appraise the value OF that
which is indispensable yet unattain-
able.
Reservoirs
although the whole present water
supply may be said to be drawn from
a vast reservoir. namely the great
gravel filled basin of the San Fernan-
do Valley, no means We're available
at this time for accelerating the flow
from this source beyond the natural
delivery of its drainage |
into the Los Angeles River As the |
average daily consumption OF the city |
in the summer months was perilious |
ly close to this quantity, the lack OF |
reservoir capacity i'll the system to
meet the fuctuating demands OF heat
ed periods and the contingency OF
was conspicuous.
The reservoirs then in use were:
The Bellevue with capacity of ap-
proimately 100000 gallons and the
Ruena Vista, with a capacity OF 49,
100000 gallons, both OF these supply
ng the Low Gravity System; the
Reaudry, with capacity OF 5,So0.O0oI
gallons and the Hazard, with a capac
ty of 65O,00O gallons, supplying the
High Gravity; and the Angeleno
Heights with a capacity OF oOO.ooo gal
ons, as the only reserve for the High
Service. There was no water dehv-
red to a higher elevation than the
,0O-foot level at that time
Immediately after the acquisition
# the water works by the city, the
department. set about building the nee
,ssary reservoirs, among the number
,eing the Silver Lake, whose func-
ion is to impound surplus water in
he winter season and carry it over for
lse during the long rainless summer
period. The reservoir was built with
he proceeds Of bond issue OF $50
300 and has a capacity OF V2.9o9o3
gallons. The other reservoirs that
ollowed were distributing reservoirs
md were smalled. The work OF CON
,truction Of these reservoirs has all
)een of a permanent cnalacte
Practically New System
The same cannot be said OF the
,ipe system which necessity compell-
ID in the first period of city owner
ship Several quite large lines had to
,e constructed temporarily to meet
he emergency of the situation both
n point OF time and for reason OF lack
of funds to build more permanent
structures These temporary struc-
lures have already been replaced with
pipes Of the proper capacity and OF
such substantial construction as to
remain permanent features OF the
plant as long as they may endure. It
NAV be said that in this particular
The works have been practically re-
built during the short period OF city
ownership.
..All the work OF rebuilding and OF
has been done by day la
Dor by the forces of the Water De
partment, the only contract work be-
ing contracts for supplying teams tor
excavation OF reservoirs. hauling OF
materials, etc On few jobs bids
were invited, but they seemed so high |
they were rejected by the Board Ct
Water commissioners, and in no case
ultimately did the work cost as much
as the amount of the lowest bid
Continued on Page Four)