The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-07-19
WATER WASTE
IS CRIMINAL
SAYS WRITER
Water System OF Cities Should BE
Such That There is No Waste OF
Water Now so Very Costly.

Uusing high priced coal and labor
to pump water to run into sewers is
criminal waste, is the title of a very
interesting ard instructive article
published in the American City Maya
zine this month, by Edward f. Wan
Water Commissioner of st. Louis, Mo.
The situation is not unlike our own
situation and we feel that we might
be benefited by studying methods be-
ing used to overcome problems in
which we have common interest.
Mr.. Wall says. Taking the results
of measurements in St. Louis togeth-
err with reports from observers in 9th
err cities the average quantity of 40
gallons per capita per day would give
an ample water supply for domestic
use The quantity of water daily
used for public purposes such as
street washing and sprinkling in pub
lie buildings and parks, and for eX-
tinguishing fires, as nearly as can be
estimated should not exceed II gal
Ions per capita.
The daily commercial use of water
in various cities ranges from 80 to
60 gallons per capita so that it is
safe to estimate AZ gallons as sutlc-
lent while the unavoidable losses of
water from the system such as I'M
discoverahle underground leaks
losses from draining mains for re-
pairs from leaks and breaks before
they can be shut off. from the slip Of
meters, and water stolen through I'M
recorded connections and deliberate
misrepresentation would be covered
by an allowance of a daily per capita
of 10 gallons
A daily consumption of 1O7 gallons
per capita as above divided between
domestic. public and commercial
uses, including the allowance for UNI
preventable losses will not only pro-
vide an ample supply for all legiti-
mate uses but will still admit of eX-
travagances or waste to a consider
able extent, perhaps 90 per cent.
The actual average daily per capita
consumption in st. Louis for the cal
endar year 1917 was 1873 gallons This
excess of &c gallons per capita per
day represent the actual wanton
oh ic in %
ton whatever. 1t means that 100000
900 gallons of water were daily pump
ed into the mains and deliberately
wasted into the sewers and drains
without having served any useful pur-
pose The cost of pumping, purifying
and re-pumpng this water was NOT
less than $40 per million gallons for
operating and maintenance charges
alone, or total of $500 per day abb
solutely thrown away, amounting to
the total sum of $4,000 for the year
1917.
The coal burned per million gallons
of water pumped, by actual weights
taken In the DOlleT TOOlllS aNeIdEtu a.
500 pounds or over G5 tons of con-
were consumed each day, This $500
tons of coal was consumed at time
when the nited States Fuel Admins
traitor was urging economy and re-
stricting coal deliveries to the bare
necessities of preferred classes OF
consumers.
Among the restrictive measures
that could and should be Immediately
authorized may be mentioned the pro
hibition of lawn-sprinkling or wash
ing sidewalks, except between certain
hours mornings and evenings; forbid
ding the use of automatic devices fol
sprnkling lawns or gardens except
where promises are metered; prohib
itlng the use of water motor washinl
machines and in fact, the use or waite,
motors In general the enforcement