Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-05
The Rates for Metered Water.

When the proposed increase in the
water rates for the purpose of paying for
an extension of the meter system was
preached The Star pointed out that this
would lay an unjust burden upon the
small consumer. who now pays for more
water than he uses. inasmuch as he does
not consume the amount for which the
minimum rate of $50 is charged. An in
crease of the rate beyond this point
would leave a wider margin than at pres
ent between the water paid for and the
water used. Ii has recently been stated
that the Commissioners are considering
the feasibility of easing the burden of the
proposed increase upon the small con-
sumner by permitting the minimum rate
to remain as at present, while reducing
the amount of water for which that rate
is charged In other words. the small
consumer would. according to this plan.
be brought closer 10 the point of paying
an extra charge for his consumption.
He would be under the pressure of pos
sible additional charge to reduce his con-
sumption as to keep within his margin
The only effect. therefore. upon the sys-
tenn as a whole would be the possible
saving in consumption among the small
users thus menaced by overcharge.
According to table printed in the re-
port of the operations of the engineer
department of the District for the fiscal
year 1910. out of 1914 metered houses
only Lois paid in excess of the minimum
rate. 11.1O2 paying the minimum rate,
the remainder falling under classified
lions of multiple service, etc. The con-
sumers who paid the minimum rate were
allowed at this rate to use 166.J5O,oro
cubic feet of water. They actually used
p 600 cubic feet and paid for So. 1885,,
100 which they did not use, or more than
one-half In other words, as regards
nearly 81 per cent of the metered houses
in the District in 1910. the consumers
paid for over twice as much water as
they used.
Here is the dilemma which confronts
the Commissioners in the present propo-
Sition: II they raise the rate horizontally
against all consumers. in order to
reduce the consumption and postpone the
day Of an additional conduit expenditure.
they will be imposing an unjust burden
upon the small consumer. who in the
great majority of cases pays for twice as
much water as he uses already: or, if
they reduce the amount of water that
can be consumed for the present mini
mum rate. they will in any case be COM
peilinS the small consumer TO pay for
ali even larger percentage of unused
water. that percentage increasing as he
economies in his consumption.
In either case a gross injustice is done
10 the domestic consumer. and to no
purpose save To shorten his supply, which
is now no greater than ii should be IN
the interest of cleanliness and health.
How much better it would be to proceed
with the metering of large consumers.
those who are using more water than
they are already paving for. and TO pay
for the metering out of general funds
without adding to the tax already borne
by the consumers, the metered and the
unmetered alike
The more this water question is studied
the palmer it becomes that if il is han
Cled by the Commissioners with due re-
gard Tor the welfare OF the community
they will abandon altogether the sugges-
ton of an increased rate which is not
now needed for the maintenance of the
service and concentrate themselves on Sc
curing from Congress a further appropria
tion for an extension of the meter service
On the same terms as in the original
meter installation.