Evening journal., 1912-11-12
'READJUST
WATER RATES
FOR ECONOMY
Commissions Proposed Plan
Means Lower Rates for
Many Consumers
MANUFACTURES HAVING
METERS MAY PAY MORE

IN water consumption per capita ue-
spite the increased use of meters.
members of the Board of Water Com
missioners have prepared a new sch
edule of water rents. The schedule
was read at yesterdays meeting OF
the Board. and will be considered at
a future meeting for final action.
The necessity for the change IN
rates was made known yesterday af-
ternOon when the Board members
stated to representatives of the news
papers that unless the consumption
Of water per capita is decreased, a
great portion Of which is lost through
waste, Wilmington will have to in-
crease the size Of its water plant and
the number OF its pumps at cost Of
aaOut S500000. The fact is apparent
that with the increased use Of met
ers, instead of curtailing water cons
sumption. there has been an increase
OF water used per meter service.
The figures of the Department show
that during 1912. with but 100 met
ers installed, the consumption OF
water per capita was ninety-four gal.
Ions. In 1911 with 1874 meters in
use the per capita consumption was
ia 7-10 gallons.
The increase has been more than
l,000000 gallons a year and unless
checked, the present filter and pump
ing system viii be inadequate
Under the old schedule there was
a charge of SO for each bathtub, under
the new schedule there will be a
charge of SO for the first tub and 81
for each. additional tub. Each wash
pave and each wash basin also will
be charged for.
The main adjustment of rates ap-
plies 10 the meter service, however.
and il is figured it will result i'm a
reduction in charges for about fifty
per cent of dwellings having meter
viii make no increase if not lower
than thirty per cent of the remaining
dwellings having meters and possi-
hly increase the charges on the re-
manning twenty per cent of in meter
ed dwellings. The new adjustment
VIII probably increase the rates of
manufacturing plants having meter
serrice. Dwelling houses can use
either the meter service or the regu-
lar rental service at the option of the
owner. as IN the past
Under the new schedule il is pro-
posed TO abolish the present fixed
minimum charge of SO per year for
meter service, which permits the use
OF 300 gallons of water daily, and in
stead provide a uniform charge Of S5
per Year for as inch meters and
charge IS cents per thousand for the
first two thousand cubic feet of water
or less used. The use of the water
in larger quantities, as we'll as the
rates for the meters under the new
schedule. will be-
First two thousand cubic feet or
less. st 75c per thousand; next three
thousand cubic feet or less. at Coo per
Thousand; next five thousand cubic
feet or less at 45c per thousand; next
ten thousand cubic feet or less. at
40c per thousand; next thirty thous-
and cubic feet or less at 3Sc per
thousand: next fifty thousand cubic
feet or less, at SIC per thousand; next
one hundred thousand cubic feet or
less. at 36c per thousand.
That is the cost of two hundred
thousand cubic feet is S75.45 All in
excess Of two hundred thousand cubic
feet at 35c.
Bills for water consumed by meter
measurement will be payable quarter
ly during the month following the
close of the Quarter.
/. Rates for properties supplied by me-
ter measurement
Annual service charge 5-S in. me-
ter S500; annual service charge, "a
in meter, $500; annual service
charge, In. meter $1,000; annual
service charge, l 12 in. meter, S120O;
annual service charge in. meter.
$1,000; annual service charge. 3 in.
meter, $1,000; annual service charge
IN meter, S2500; annual service
charge 6 in. meter. $4,000; annual
service charge in. meter, $4,000
The Board contends that under this
rating those using water will be
more careful and less water will be
raised AS an illustration. it was
pointed out that five houses in the
southwestern section of the city were
recently found to have water flowing
continuously and each house had
wasted close TO 5000 gallons daily
Had the owner been paying for water
under the proposed plan, he would
have attended to the waste.
Must Have Meters.
Properties that can secure water
only through the meter service are
as follows:
Air pumps, automatic, apartment
houses. barber shops, bakeries, bot
tling establishments, bathing estah-
lishments, (public), churches. with
pools, club houses. dental rooms, drug
stores, department stores, engines
(gas and steam, electors, factories
fish tanks and stalls, fountains, foun-
tains, (soda), garages, (public), green
and hot houses, florists, hotels, lawn
sprinklers. (autOmatic) laundries, To-
comotives, motors, (water), market
houses. Office buildings, Carge)
printing offices, photograph galleries
public buildings, restaurants, stables,
Qivery), saloons, syphons, (water)
urinals. (running), and properties re.
quiring a service one inch In diam
eter or larger.
There will be few, if any, charges
in water rents, they being as follows
for properties not having meter SER
vice.
Minimum charge for each property
connected with city water main So.
Charges for dwelling houses;
Dwelling houses of four or more
rooms having one hydrant in yard OF
one sink I'm kitchen, or both, one
family. s5: each additional hydrani
or sink, ST. dwelling houses of twf
rooms. not connected with water
main. one family, So; dwelling houses
Of three rooms. not connected with
water main. one family. s4; dwelling
houses of four or more, rooms, not
connected with water main, one fam
fly. s..
Dwellings occupied by more thar