The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-01-31
USERS Of WATER
TO Be PROTECTED
COUNCILMAN SULLIVAN TO INTRO
DuCE ORDINANCE IN INTEREST
OF CITIZENS.
TO PAY FOR LEAKAGE

vAILrNG METHOD OF COLLECT
ING WATER BILLS AND HE
FUNDING FOR CAUSE.
Councilman w. Il. Sullivan. OF JEFF
ferson Ward. who recently introduced
an ordinance in Council requiring the
city to pay depositors for gas accounts
interest on their deposits, is now con-
cerned as to the water bills, and the
charges for leakage below the sur
face.
1t was stated yesterday that he
would at any early session of Coun-
ell introduce an ordinance requiring
the city to refund sums paid By ciu-
Gems due to error OF leakage. An or
der to enlighten himself. and To give
the people of Richmond an insight
into the prevailing methods and CON-
dition of things pertaining to the pay
ment of such bills, Councilman Sulli-
van yesterday asked Chief Clerk
Dickerson, of the Water Department.
to give him some information. Here
Is the result OF the correspondence:
Richmond. Va. Jan. 80. 1915.
Mr.. W. l.. Sullivan. Member Council.
jefferson Ward.
City.
Dear Sir,-Owtng to the numerous
com plants likely to be made at this
office, and additional misunderstand-
ings between owners, agents and oc-
cupants of premises using city Wa
ter through meters. due to the follow
ing letter. containing the first ana
only source Of complaint or dissatis-
faction concerning the refunds allow
ed by the City Water Works. wherv
leakages occur below ground. re-
specially state at your request my
understanding of the system of re-
batting under which this department
operates.
January 81, 1915.
The Administrative Board.
Gentlemen,-The writer has several
times called your attention to the
enormous increase In the totals Of wa
ter bills refunded, the aggregate or
same increasing from sss0.33 in 1912
to s2,35s20 for 1914 to date. the
larger portion OF which have been
authorized without ordinance author
ity. In this connection I wish to call
YOUR attention to section "A Of chap
ter IL providing THAT the treasurer
of the city OF Richmond be. and he
Is hereby, empowered to refund any
water or gas bill which has been
twice paid and proper portion OF any
water bill. when the occupier OF toe
house charged with the bill shall
move before the end of the quarter
paid for" anu also to the last para
graph Of subsection TX" Of section IA
of chapter 81, reading as follows:
"All water passing, through meter.
except the fixed quantity before stated
for certain fixtures, shall be charged
for whether used or wasted" and to
subsection II: mo person shall be
entitled to damage. or to have any
portion OF q payment refunded for
any stoppage OF supply OF water &C.
casioned by choking or accident to
either the service pipe or meter. or
for the s.oppage OF water, for the
purpose of addition or repairs or adj
ditions to pipes and meters"
Under the section OF the ordinance
referred to above. no refund except
ing where the party has moved can
be legally made or authorized by any
other authority than the City Cou..-
Gil, hence this Office must decline to
make refunds for leaks or other
causes than removals. from and after
February ], 1915
Yours very respectfully.
GEORGE s. CRENsHAw.
Auditor.
No Bearing on Relating.
The ordinance cited in the Audi
tors letter, viz, City Code. chapter
II, section A. has no bearing on our
system Of rebating. other than pro-
viding for refund in cases where bills
are twice paid. and for the uuexp'red
portion OF a auafter where the pe'.cn
charsed with tie bin shall have
moved.
AOrdina AGA cited. VIZ: city r,,Se,
1910. chapter 81. subsection X
reads: 'All wat AZ passing through
meter, except fixed quantity afore-
stated for certain fixtures, will be
charged for whether used or wasted"
The intent and purp ,sc NJ thiJ Jaw
is self-explanatory: its patron AMI ad-
vocate who adopted 1t never intend
ed that charges made for hidden un-
derground leakages OF water should
be collected, or they would have
specified leakage as we'll a. use or
waste.
In order to use anything or apply
IT to = particular purpose. ono must
re desires to make use OF. and to
waste anything one must also gain
possession In order to destroy or
sauander or have knowledge OF to
be held responsible for neglect. which
might also be termed a waste. This
being true. to require payment for
water leakage through an under
ground burst, discovered only after
the excess consumption has accrued.
IL certainly not in accordance with
the letter or spirit Of tho above
quoted law. To charge. require pay
ment and not rebate in such cases be-
yond the control Of the department.
the owner Of the property. his agent
or the occupant thereof. would be .
gross injustice to all concerned. and
would but multiply the complaints.
increase contentious and disputes
Under the following resolution Oh
the Administrative Board. approved
November "a. 1919 simple justice
was done the city and the entire pub
&c affected.
Resolution.
Resolved. That where underground
leaks occur In water pipes OF metered
services and the water wasted does
not show on the surface. and the
owner. AGENT or tenant. after receiy-
ing written notice from the Water
Department concerning the excess
consumption shall have promptly
made all necessary repairs. the Su-
perintendent OF the Water Works is