Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-07-13
QUEER TWISTS IN
NEW WATER RENT
ARE CRITICISED
Little Attention Paid to the
Amount of Water Used
in Making Bills
PROBLEMS NOT SOLVED
Installation of New Meters
Would Cut Seriously Into
City'S Revenues

Abandonment by City Council of
the old minimum service for the
ready to serve" charge recommend
ed by an expert brought here last
winter. has resulted in the rendering
of some ridiculous bills, it was
learned to-day.
Under the new method the amount
of water used by the consumer is
about the last thing considered in
making out the bills. Much more at
tention is paid to the size OF the
meter than 10 the amount of water
that goes through ii notwithstanding
the fact that the real expense OF
operating the water works is in the
pumping of the water.
Protests Grow
With the rendering this week or
bills for the last three months. the
protest asainst the method Of Charg-
ing now is said 10 be growing TO un-
usual proportions. This despite the
fact that the public generally recog-
niZes the need OF higher water rents
than were effective last year.
The peculiar thing about the whole
method evolved by the expert Is that
any businessman can cut his water
bills in half without the least trou-
BILE and without hothering in the
least to save water. All that is neces-
sary is the installation OF different
meter and automatically the bills
come tumbling down while the water
consumed may mount upward.
Comments made in business cir
Cles to-day indicated that plumbers
will have a busy time OF il from now
on installing new meters. Ii enough
meters can be found in a short time
the revenues OF the water depart
ment will. it was admitted in city
circles to-day, tumble down surprise
ingly next winter. According TO men
in city official circles ii was admitted
that changes may have TO be made
in the rates by winter if enough new
meters can be shipped into the city
10 meet the new demand.
Bill Out of Proportion
As an illustration OF the way the
new system works a businessman
to-day submitted two bills received
by him yesterday. The building TO
which the water is served is a large
one and has two water meters for
which the owner paid years ago.
1t happens that the meter that
supplies most OF the water comes
very satisfactorily through what is
known as a "one-inCh' meter. This
supplies all the water that his man
ufacturing plant needs. The second
meter which feeds only lavatories
and provides drinking water. hap
pens 20 be Of the "three-inch' va
riety. Because OF this fact the buSi-
nessman now is called upon 10 pay
S2G.45 for using 1900 cubic feet OF
water out Of the three-inch meter
while is only is charged Sl7.55 for
$4,000 cubic feet out Of the other.
In other words in one instance three
times the amount OF water can be
had for q little more than one-half
the cost If you know how 10 work
the system"
Can Cut Bills
Under the experts manner of fig
uring il costs $50 more 10 have q
three-inch meter about the prem
ises. If a plumber can get . one-inch
meter into the premises within q
short time the next bill will be
slashed automatically SEQ next fall.
According 10 the experts report
this difference in charge is made
with the view Of paying for the
overhead and "upkeep' eXpenes of
the water works. No provisions, how
ever. is made 10 provide for this aft
er the old and larger meters are
scrapped by the businessmen.
1t was generally conceded last
winter that the water charges were
too low and in need OF revision. The
experts recommendation, too, looked
we'll as TO theory, but in practice the
system is criticised as having worked
out TO a rather foolish conclusion.