Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-06-02
WATER
SYSTEM RUINOUS,
ASSERTS MURRAY
CONTINUED from page one)

! This increase net being great enough
to meet expenses, the old schedule
was taken up and readjustmeni
made along these lines.
We have arrived at a general rate
! for dwelling, the equity OF which
IeIve for you to decide In my judg
ment no flat rate is equitable: for
! example, a family of six people would
! obviously use more water than fam
! lily of two living in a similar place and
! il does not follow that a family oil
/ two can any better afford to pay the
set flat rate for such an area
The question of setting rate for
| stores, factories, warehouses, etc, has
been gone into very carefully by the
department, and we find it impossible
to fix a rate to cover such places.
Men in the same line OF business are
paying all out of proportion to the
amount OF water used.
Fixing rates for water consumed
except by meter depends entirely On
the question Of whether or not the
department head is good guesser.
!, Although anxious to be absolutely fair
no department head is competent to
fix flat rate that is equitable.
Taking up the matter of meters,
+ am absolutely certain that meters
can be purchased that will suit Homo
lulu's condition. AS I have said, the
trouble has not been so much the me-
ter as the work the meter is expected
to do, and If care is taken in placing
and looking after meters, do not eX-
pect any trouble from such a system,
In February the department had
working 392 meters, today there are
installed and working $40, approx
mately 10 per cent of services me-
tered.
81 have made the statement that
the per capita consumption in Homo
lulu, 300 gallons, is enormous. This
statement is based on the fact that
the consumption of water in Honolulu
is nearly three times the average con-
sumption In the states. ... E.. ...@
The next matter of importance in
the Honolulu water department is the
conserving of its supply. Mr.. Alex
ander. in paper read before the So
eial Science Club also before the coun.
ty officials and invited guests at Rob.
ert Shingles residence, included in
the conservation of the Honolulu wa.
ter supply the 4.900, 600 to 100000
gallons of artesian water used by man
nfacturers. The manner in which this
may be done in two instances has
been reported on ~ M. Bromley,
chief engineer of the department.
I'm the case OF the Hawaiian Elec-
tric Company it will be to the ad.
vantage OF. the governor to secure the
run of water for the purpose Of in
creasing the pressure In downtown
district and for shipping, at the same
time allow the department to better
supply the Waikiki and Manoa district
from the Beretanis street station. In
the case of the Rapid Transit Com.
pany main connected to their con-
densors would conserve the water
from their plant, the cost to the gov
eminent being only that of installing
pipes and fitting. Taking up these
would be to the interest of
the corporation and at the same time
would protect the community by con-
serving at least $500, 600 gallons daily
of good pure water Three and one
half millions is all the. department
cen handle.
"Resides installing of meters to pre-
vent wastes of water there must be
considered the laying of mains to sup
ply water. In Kaimuki KaIihi, Ma
noa, IN feet in all parts of the city,
we find three.quarter inch service
pipes supplying 10 to 80 houses, when
they should be supplying one. e
anticipating the Manoa street Inn
Mr.. Kerchoff, the engineer
In our department. is now working
on a pipe system covering this sec
ton. Two plans are being worked
cut. One double line, that is
system for each side of the street. the
pipe to be placed in the sidewalk |
area; the other plan, the main to be
plsced in the street. ~
Summing up the situation, / be-
Iieye the policy should be. first, allow
The department to assess the new
rates for dwellings,. After the first /
payment Is made and the rate then APP |
pears too high or produces too great |
q revenue, that rate may then be re-
iueed on percentage basis Second, |
increased rates for stores, etc, 10 per |
cent, or allow the old rates to stand |
and Immediately install meters in such |
places. Third, where the department |
Is sure that there is an excessive |
amount of water used in dwelling |
rather than employ inspectors to pre-
vent the waste that all such places be
put under the meter system"