New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-11
neputy Commissioned Viii
,ox. Author OF New Bill,
Explains It's Provisions.
pPFSENT SYSTEM
COST $i76,000,OOO
cNsers Had Previously No Right
70 Demand InStallati of
Meters on Premises.

pelos F. Wilcox, Deputy Commits
...oer Of the Water Department. has
.,o,ained 90 the request Of the Ad-
ir.ory Council OF Real Estate Interests,
d, various changes which will be ef-
s.,.,8 by Tho water bill. He is the
.g,hor Of The bill, The principal object
. which is 20 reduce water waste in
ID, ,i.r. and. 20 obtain just compen-
FOR for tho city for the water used.
Tle Advisory Council contends
- either the city must develop its
s..sr supnlv without limit and at great
.,,srse. the present cost being Sl76,-
M o00 or some method must be de-
..ed 10 check the waste Of water
1-ou-h the city. Whether this can
y. done hv meteT.nC or other methods
no, vet determined says the coun-
IN "Howcvcr. experience has shown
. Boston. Philadelphia, Cleveland and
,flvaukee that the meter system has
-.Sured the use Of water per capita
q, one-haf what il was before meters
ere installed. The local water depart
-.ert thinks the use OF water might
n, reduced from l25 gallons per capita
% approximately seventy gallons per
Here are some Of the salient things
nat can be done under the new law:
me Commissioner has power 70 install
~ cause 70 be installed meters on any
~ All residential premises. The cost
n meters and their installation and
-aintenance will continue TO be a
Asrre against property owners unless
.be Board Of Aldermen, upon the rec
ormendation Of the Water Depart
nent. consents 10 the adoption of the
Jan Of city-owned meters and the in
.tsllation and maintenance Of meters
II public expense. The Board Of Alder
nen. upon the recommendation Of the
Water Department, may establish min
mum charges in connection with meter
rates.
Over 100000 Meters In Use.
More than 100000 meters have been
installed under the old law on the city
service. most Of them on business prem
SEES. az the expense Of the property
owners. All these meters are now
owned by private individuals, and prior
70 the passage of the new law there
vas no authority in the Water Depart
ment. either alone or In cooperation
with an other branches of the city gov
eminent, 90 acquire these meters,
either By gift or by purchase, and
maintain them as public property
Under the new law the department
may, with approval Of the Board of
Aldermen and upon such terms and
subject 70 such rules and regulations
as may be approved by the board, &C
Quire these meters on behalf of the
city.
Owners Of residential premises de-
string 20 have meters installed upon
them and TO pay for water at meter
rates had no right under the old law to
demand meters, and in case they did
the Commissioner had no right to per
nit them to be installed until the
Board Of Aldermen should give its con-
sent 70 the general metering Of all
residential premises Nevertheless
through q misapprehension of the law
and through series y circumstances
arising over a number Of years, the de-
psrtment had permitted the installa
ton Of about 1900 meters on purely
residential premises. ia some cases
The bills payable at meter rates were
much less shan they would have been at
the regular frontage rates for the same
premises, and in other cases they were
very much more. Under the new law
any property owner has the right, ire
spectiye Of any previous action by the
Board Of Aldermen or any previous ex-
ercise of discretion by the Commits
siOner 20 demand that a meter be
placed upon his premises and that nc
be served 40 meter rates.
Two Of the private water companies
now operating in Queens have practl-
cally their services metered. In the
case Of one, the meters are owned by
The company, and in the case Of the
other by the property owners. Inc
Water Commissioner, under Section Az
Of the charter, independent Of any pow
ers vested in the Board Of Aldermen or
IN the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tonment is given authority 70 eXer,
else superintendence, regulations and
The rates charged. For some years the
matter Of the desirability Of acquiring
these private water plants and extend
ng the city service throughout city
territory has been under consideration,
not only by The Water Department, but
also by the Board Of Estimate and APP
portionment. Under the old law, in
case the city acquired the property OF
The two companies whose services are
metered, 70 would have been incumbent
on the Commissioner TO throw out Of
service nearly 10000 meters on resi-
Dental premises in districts which have
been thoroughly accustomed 10 the
meter system. Under the new law
without any further action by the
Board Of Aldermen, metered services
taken over from the private companies
can be kept upon the meter basis If the
property owners desire it, and, with
the consent Of the Board Of Aldermen,
all such metered services can be main
FAMED without reference 20 the extern
sion Of the meter system elsewhere.