The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-12-27
Examination of Water Depart
ment Records Shows Why
Rate Was Increased.
Loss Is 81 PERCEN Mt
Expenditure OF $1,000 Would
Have Saved City Large
Part of This Waste.
tRy Jerry ssodaard)

surplus fund could BE- built up IN the
water department IL the tsrifno waste
of water now going on were reduced
to a minimum. F. r. Ha9erman has
fiied bis audit Of that department wita
the governor. The audit was male
for the three years ending Oct /.
1890. This is the date the increased
rates 70 the users went into effees.
During the year ending Oct /. 1859.
ca per cent of all water pumped -
the water department Of the city was
wasted. Mr. Hagerman's report as-
serted.
Mr.. Hagerman was appointed -
audit tho books OF the city by tsov~
ernor Cats following reeelpt Q. 4 Pc
tltlon from seventy asse citizens.
water pumped by the department
during the year was - forth a. sis.-
ass. 900 gallons. of WHY len the city re-
eelved pay for only 22fsssoe0 gailona.
or 20 per cent u Il e total amount
pumped. Water slpplled free u
charge. including thlt used BY The
city. churches. schobis, hospital ana
other uses. was rfported as being
81. .sas 600 gallons. a per cent Of ths
total amount pump4r The balance. oT
tha total amount ~ sz6aisooo sal
Ions. toiallinw - ker cent % that
bumped. was was' "aeorains TO The
The above heuren were arrived At
after allowing II per cent greater slip
a
lowing the maximum standard for
underground main waste. During tic
year of 1918 waste was given AZ IS
per cent of the total amount pumped
and in 1919 at 50 per cent.
superintendent Sweeney estimates
that 4 great deal of this waste could
be prevented II 81 .o00 were expended
for repairs. according 20 the auditor.
who advises that this be done az once.
The auditor points out that "it h a
known fact that the fiush tanks ~ the
city, due 20 faulty construction. are
allowed 60 run wide open and the
water wasted through them must be
enormous"
II is estimated that from 70 70 -
per cent ~ the meters III service ara
stopped and this state of affairs runs
Indefinitely" continues the report
This Is all wrong and should be cnF-
rected. II this department has not
got sufficient labor to detect and stop
waste IL should be supplied forthwith.
Your department should stand firmlY
behind your inspectors ard insist that
repairs be made or the water shut
on"
The department showed a deficit
last year of s7.ATT.47. during the time
water wasting amounted 20 s2o.si5.ooe
gallons. During the previous year the
department had a net income of 81
aAas50 though many more meters were
placed in service that year than this
year. During the year of 1919 the
department made q net balance ~ -
54o.4e. The auditor states ia the
final summary that the salaries and
labor as shown by the analysis sheet
are not excessive and that al other
expenses are reasonable
Pensacola water rates were In
creased. effective Oct Of this year. -
three times that paid ia New Orleans
and twice that paid IN Mobile and Is
propoxtsonately higher than In other
cities In this section. The department
books showed loss of sT.&77sT dur
ing Las. year and 20 make up thiH de-
felt the commissioners voted the ln-
crease in rates. The increased rates
were estimated 20 bring In approxi-
mafelg that amount yearly.
superintendent Sweeney tenders1
his resignation as head of the water
works. effectivs Dec. I 81 this year.
II was ANNOUNCED that he would take
up his former profession as engineer
with shipping concern. II wac rsa-
mored on the sfrests that pressure
was being brought 20 bear on Mr.
Sweeney by citixsna TO run for city
commissioner In the spring election.
The commissioners pMssed a resosu-
tion, presented hy Commissioners Hin
rschs. expressing c0nnderea IN the
ability of Mr.. Sweeney and asking
him TO reconsider fls resignation. The
resolution also oppressed willingness
TO increase the salary OF the sufsersu-
tendent c0mmensuFase with his ability.
In a statement made to The Jour
nal BY J. ~ Andrews. who was one
Of the leaders in asking the governor
20 appoint an auditor. he said; ''.rha
auditors report showed that waa
correct when I stated that there was
n0 reason for an ancr@nse In the wat
er rates last fall By stopping the
waste 90 a minimum the department
should show = surplus instead Of =
aesoif
~Five times sfnce Oct. l. this year"
ne continued. ~E1wt nm has beer
without water pressure at niwht- II
there had been = serious Ere thsra
Na~a hssass sss.- 50 an y&