Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1911-10-05
MORE METERS
WILL BE USED
Water Board Sees Advantage
Over Flat Rates--Will Pre-
vent Much Waste.
FIGURES ARE STATED
Would Lower Meter Rates
as lnducement-- Report OF
Pump Test Not Ready.

1t became evident at a meeting Oh
the Board of Water Commissioners
last night that the use of meters in
connection with water charges will
be strongly urged. A report contain
ing statistics and much data showing
the advantages derived by cities in
charging by meter instead of fiat
rates was presented by Superintend-
ent A. H. Crowell. He considered
the fat rate basis of charging unjust
and recommended that the annual
minimum charge be reduced to S5
for those who purchase meters and
to S8 for those to whom the city fur
nishes meters. The commissioners
favor the meter system chiefly be-
cause 1t would stop unnecessary
waste of water. Arguments for the
meter system presented showed that
consumers would gain if meters were
usd, as would the city also because
the stoppage of waste would reduce
expense In pumping.
Make Rates as Inducement.
1t Is not likely that the board will
compel the use of meters, but will
make rates such that 1t will be to
the advantage of every water user
to install his own meter. BY thus
encouraging the use of meters the
board plans to discourage water
waste. The revenue to the city
would be about the same as at pres
ent, according to statistics from
other cities, and the consumer would
benefit as much.
Commissioner Sibley broached a
plan to install large meters on mains
In various parts of the city in an
effort to discover what sections
water was wasted in. He suggested
that by this method the department
could learn, of waste in sections and
by checking up could trace 1t to in
dividuala. Whether individual me-
ters were installed or not, he advo-
Gated installation of meters on mains
to determine the amount of water
pumped into the respective sections.
The subject of meter installation
was discussed at length, but no def
mite action was taken. One commits
sioner suggested plan to widely
advertise the benefits to be derived
from meter service for the purpose
of interesting consumers.
Figures by Superintendent.
Mr.. Crowell's report contained
figures of the cost of maintenance Of
meters In service here with other
dase sof~records for the present year
up to September L. In it Mr.. Crowell
set forth that ninety per cent. of
meter trouble the past year was
caused by sediment in water from
the pond and pumps and not from
mechanical defects in the meters.
The actual average cost for meters
repaired was s1.25 each or an aver
age maintenance cost of seventeen
cents for each of the i 1,250 meters in
service, not including the cost of
reading. He stated he considered
the fat rate basis of charging unjust
as under such many pay for the
waste of few He termed, it guess
work pure and simple.
He advocated conservation of the
water supply of the city not by dis
couraging the free use for all pro-
per purposes, but by diseouraging
water waste and extravaganza The
prevention of water waste was saw
ing In coal and consequently the cost
of pumping, he held, and In addition
to that more water could be kept in
storage, there would be an improve
ment In distribution and an increase
In pressure.
Comparison with Other Cities.
Other parts of Mr.. Crowell's re-
port showed that statistics indicated
that In cities of from $4,000 to
$4,000 population the average con-
sumption per individual when water
was not metered was $50 gallons
per day. When metered 1t was sixty
gallons per day. That the report of
Mr.. Hirsch showed forty per cent. of
the water delivered to New York
city was wasted. Further, as an in
ducement to the city metered con-
sumers he suggested that the annual
minimum meter charge be reduced
to SIS for those having their own
meters and to So for those whom the
city furnish with meters. AS this
minimum charge would be less than
the fiat rate for one fixture, he MAIN
tanned, 1t would be to the direct ben
eft of the consumer to buy and In
stall meter Thus, he claimed,
the city would save, the careful con-
sumer would pay less than under
the current fat rate, while the waste
would be disclosed and paid for. He
further suggested that all public
buildings be metered so as to give
the department means of positive
check on pumpage.
President Snedeker wanted to
know how cities went about In estab-
fishing meter systems He suggest
ed that water departments In some
cities be communicated with in that
respect. superintendent Crowell said
In Cleveland, where the meter sys-
tenn is In use, meters were set in iron
boxes on the sidewalks.
Pump Report Not Ready.
City Surveyor Samuel ]. Mason |
reported that he was not ready to 4
render a report on the recent test OF
the Wisconsin pump at Runyon as
there were yet a number of discrep-
ancies to be checked UP. He stated
q report might be completed In time |
for presentation at the next meeting. |
The report of the superintendent
showed that sixty-nine taps had been |
made during September. Requisi- !
tions for supplies at Runyon were
granted.
Automobiles for rent. See C A. |
Sexton, 10 Smith street. or phone
r. "a