The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-09-03
TIE WATER SHORTAGE.

TIE WATER SHORTAGE.
| The prolonged drought in this city
combined with the waste of water by
the reckless or selfish, commonly
called "water-hogs, has given us a
condition of water shortage that could
hardly have been anticipated earlier
in the season, and that undoubtedly
could be prevented by vigilance, When
the first warning was given TO the
people of this city that there was
danger of coming shortage, and that
if the "water. hog did not stop his
depredations the whole city would he
put on limitation because of the
''wstel hog 50 waste, The Tribune
urged that examples should be made of
some of the "water- hogs" by way OF
fines and shutting off Of the water
from the premises where the waste
occurred. This was not done. The
water-hog" paid no attention to the
warning given, and then the depart
ment. IN place of catching the ''water-
hogs" and making examples of them,
put into effect the threatened restric-
tion. And now the shortage Of water
and the lightness of pressure devel-
oped by the demand for water at the
fire in the Savage warehouse, has dis
closed the real shortage in the daily
water supply, And still there is little
done towards Furnishing the "water-
hog who never pays any attention to
any warning, who continues to waste
precisely as before. who regards no
regulation or restriction, and who
makes the whole city suffer for his
hoggishness.
Undoubtedly, as urged by the Water
Department, the Installing of meters
would disclose precisely where the
trouble is. But it seems as though
there ought to be some way to catch
some of the water-hogs" and make
examples of them without enforcing
such a drastic change as would be in
volved in the general installing of
meters. AS The Tribune has said here
tofore, the time will probably come
when the houses Will all have to put
in the meter system. We are 10th to
believe, however, that that time is now.
We believe that, with proper vigilance,
and with active inspection so as TO
catch those who waste water, and,
after due warning, to punish them in an
exemplary manner if they continue
that waste, would be sufficient. not
only for this season, but for a num-
Der of seasons to come, unless there
should be season of minimum pre-
cipitation during the fall, winter, and
pring,
The demand for water is constantly
increasing through the great natural
growth Of the city; and by the expan-
sion of industries, manufactures, and
the larger demands Of increasing bust
ness and commercial needs in both the
business and the residence sections
The immediate remedy, as it seems to
us is, as stated, to catch those who
waste, and give them such punish.
ment and disability as will convince
them that it does not pay TO disre-
gard the ordinances, the water regu-
lations, and the general welfare There
arc other means also whereby the
water supply could be conserved and
largely increased, Each year there
runs TO waste in the spring season
abundant water to tide us over every
possible shortage later in the summer.
The problem is to conserve this sur
plus water and hold it until it is need
ed. The opportunity for doing this in
City Creek canyon is ample. There are
many places where large reservoirs
could be put in and filled in the melt.
ing season. The same is true of Par
ley's canyon. A number Of years ago
City Engineer Kelsey examined the
iutting hills this side of the old Hard
ing flat, and found an excellent place
for a rock-bed dam which would con-
serve immense quantities of water. and
this at place where the flow is ample
to fill in the spring of the year a
huge reservoir. The cost Of making
these dams and providing these reser-
voirs would not be at all prohibitive,
and we are inclined decidedly to urge
that plan of conserving and adding to
the water supply in preference to put
ting in meters throughout the city,
especially in the residence districts and
where the demand is large to keep up
the lawns, But, the first step of all
is, to prevent waste by catching those
who commit that waste, and dealing
with them faithfully, so that they will
see the error of their WAYS.
PERSIA IN HARD TIIcR