Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-08

Il DO based for commercial consumers. A
fiat rate service should DO adopted by
the department. Mctcv service should
first be extended to commercial con-
SumcrS and then to domestic con-
SunerS.
The present meter rates for water
arc not only too numerous. but they
arc diacrimi nntory and obsolete. There
are at the present time SiNty-four
meter rates In force. nurnber of the
schedules to which exception ll;is been
by the Mater Department II Is recon-
mcnded that u schedule or The lncrc-
ment type should he adopted as sug-
Ecs.ed In the text OF the report.
The practice Of collecting the mini
mum bill in advance should be us
continued. The credit ".hich the water
lection does not cover the cc2t OF such
service and the utility should there
fore receive the benefit OF an Increased
credit from the city
The present minimum bill policy OF
the Gas Department should he changed
from an annual TO n !" mGn,niS basis sM.
sumner paying the minimum bill Sc
cures considerable service for less than
its cost to the department.. y state
mcnt should he rendered TO each con
sumner monthly, whether the consumer
uses less than the minimum allowance
or more than this allowance. y min
imum bill of 30 cents per consumer per
month would increase the revenue OF
the department. it is estimated, from
Maintains UnneccsSary Offices.
Since the annexation of South Rich
momd the city has maintained an in
dependent office OF the Water Depart
mcnt. which is not required. The needs
of the community do not justify the
employment of the, STAFF In this office.
sit is recommended that the South
II Richmond Office of the Water Depart
mcnt be discontinued and the position
of second assistant superintendent
The conditions at the intake of the
water supply on the James River are
not satisfactory. Currents in the river
and obs;ruct the flow of the water,
resulting in Il considerable growth OF
algac. The water has Il distinctly un-
pleasant taste. which can be attributed
! largely TO this condition. Apparently
the only means of correcting this sit
nation is TO secure supply from Il
point farther upstream, and 1t is rec
commended that as soon as funds can
be provided this Improvement be made.
rho consultation basins at the treat
once every three months. They have
rot been cleaned rs often rs required
IN Imf hsi 'T rhs 70 shs lack Of ar
lowed to continue. The c-atnmon M
'he treatment works are employed on
a aIraE .wenty-four- hour shifts on
continued
The presence OF bacillus coll IN tho
river water ts menace to health ami
steps should be taken 10 provide fund.:
Tor the construction or Il mechanicaI
Miiftrat.on piaft which is the most sat
lslactory method of removing this
contamination. 800
Tho concrete conduit between the
,ion IN n, works and the pumping sta
| lloh Is largely without protective Gov
crinE of any kind. 1t is urged that Tho
t con be guarded asains, Injury by
, IN" railroad i nearby and from other
| cauScS oy protective covering
Nl inc pumping plant five men arc
s on auty daily on twenty four hous
emnlovm IT is recommended that the
s ,hy long shifts be discontinued. and
mat the plant be operated on two tcml
n ihe pu sm5is by reorganizaton of
proNimately $4,000 annually couid 10
oo'ained without impairing tho service
-,.o,n Trnnsfrr OF Pumping Tiant. ''e
SoH,pictc records of the operation - r
should be kept. ''' cost OF repairs
on Il. Is rec3mmended that the entire
placed under the Supervision Of the s ne
perintendent OF the Electric Denart-
the water distribution system i, ~ ~,
rGeoinmended that the city prepare
mans, mans and estimates for an adequate
work program indicating the amount
mat rs to be expended annually until
i inS ah1s ,p system has bcen en-
Decided laxity is manifested I'm tho
control over the withdrawal OF sup
work. There is a marked need for
stores control over the entire main
fenancc and repair work Of the Water
The administration of the repair
Work Is open TO criticism with regard
TO inc distribution Of men and The
Of transportation equipment II is be-
lieVed that the needs Of the city can
he met by smaller renair force and