Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-05

fund for the purpose of installing metera
The Commiss oners believe that the en-.
tire water service should be metered
within the six-year period above referred
TO. In order that the necessity for m
creasing the water supply by the con-
struction of an additional aqueduct, at an
est mated cost OF about Sa,1S.ooo may be
postponed for an indefinite number OF
years. They have. therefore. 10y an order
dated September 80, 1s11. increased the
water rates, the new rates to go into
effect July l. 1sl2.
Under the new rates adopted the mini
mum payment by meters is Increased
from 81 ~ per year to IS per year. and
the maximum al owance OF water Tor the
m nimum rate has been decreased from
1900 cubic feet. or 112.2U gallons. tn
$500 cube feet, or $3.50 gallons. All
water in excess Of 800 cubic feet Is IN
be pa for at the rate or cents per
100 cubic feet, instead of 5 cents. the
present rate.
On unmetered services the nat rate Is
increased from $40 tn S. per annum;
which is based on a premises two stories
high. with front width of ID feet or
less. For each additional front foot or
fraction thereof greater than one-half
81 cents will be charged. instead or :"
cents. the prevailing rate. For each al
ditlonal story, or part thereon. one-tnlrd
OF the charges computed as above VIII De
added.
Under the new rates adopted water
consumers will continue to receive their
water at less than the cost OF the service.
interest and deterioration OF course being
included.
The new rates will remain less than
those prevailing elsewhere.
The above statements Indicate that no
hardship will be placed upon any con-
sumner.
Indeed, more than one-third Of the
consumers who now pay the minimum
meter rate, to wit. $3.50 per annum.
will pay no more under the new rates.
inasmuch as they do not now consume up
to the new maximum allowed, namely.
1900 cubic feet. Furthermore. after
the District is metered the aggregate
receipts from the present consumers
may be expected to be but little, X At
all, greater than they are now.
With the new rates the water de-
partment will be placed upon bust
nesslike basis. The metering can be
accomplished in about six years
II the metering were not done. as
proposed, in the immediate future II
would not be too soon now to con-
template the expenditure OF millions
Of dollars for an additional water sup
ply. With the meters installed no fur-
Their consideration need be given TO an
increase of supply until the city has
grown to twice its present size. Tor
| with meters the large periodical humps
that occur In the use OF water, par
ticularly in cold weather. when con
sumers now unnecessarily open their
d
expected to disappear
Conservation should be something
more than a sentiment, and the metering
of the water supply publicly furnished
in Washington is very practlcal
measure of conservation.
1t is believed by the water depart
ment that the additional revenues que
to the increase in rates will be 100000
in the first year. In the next seven
years, however, this increase OF the
revenues will have gradually diminish
ed to a small sum which cannot be ex-
actly estimated.
II the District of Columbia were to
be presented with the meters today,
| fully equipped and installed. the Com
missioners would be obliged. neverthe
| less, to raise the rates, for the rea-
son that with meters and at the pres
ent rates the revenues OF the water
department would fall off from $4,000
| to $4,000 per annum, and there
| would be no money available for put
| ting in the meters In new houses nor
| for replacing meters that will become
worn out.
| The revenues of the water depart
ment have not been sufficient to take
| care Of deterioration, In addition to
the other obligations placed upon
them by law.
In a large section many OF the mains
| are but four inches in diameter. and
| badly choked with mud, the people
! having been thus supplied as make
shift measure.
More than a million dollars could with
| advantage be expended In the near
future in requirements.