Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-06-06
CARLETON e. DAVIS
On Phllade phia's Water Supply


THE water supply of the City of Phila-
cities, represents either a sieve with n couple
OF million openings. or carefully con-
served. we'll operated system, according to
how the public, which is served by the
Water Bureau. does its duty. says Chief
Carleton L. Davis Of the City Bureau Of
Water.
"A good water supply is the underlyins
whether that supply is found in an oasis
for the nomads Of the desert, or whether 1t
is distributed abundantly to every nook
and corner Of the tremendous aggregations
of humanity found in the great modern
cities.
THE real value of water is not appre-
ciated until 1t is actually lacking. Most
of us assume the flow of water is the mere
turning Of n spigot, as Il matter OF course,
and give no careful thought to what lies
back of the water brought to our homes,
manufacturing establishments and places Of
business.
One Fixture Per lnhabitant
There are approximately 1000, 900 per.
sons in the City of Philadelphia and there
are likewise approximately 1000. 900 spig-
OTIS, faucets, hydrants and other attachments
| through which water can be drawn. In other
words. every inhabitant of the city may be
| considered as having under his control one
HAtuTcr through WHlcn water Gun drawn
| IN careful and reasonable manner without
waste and without thought or care of what
| 1t costs in the way of taxes to bring the
| water to point of use.
THUS the city water works are either n
sieve with 1000 600 openings, or n carefully
| handled and wcll-operated system. Which
1t is depends upon the use which the pub
| control and the care individual members of
that public give to these appliances.
The amount of water used every day In
a city the size of Philadelphia is not gen.
orally known by the public. Every day
the city water wor ks pump, purify, distrib
ute and deliver about $40, ,000,O 900 gallons
OF water. or, $50 600 tons. which would be
load for freight train totaling 20, 5,0o0
cars. And, speaking Of freight trains, the
| distribution Of water from points where it
is drawn from the rivers through every
street, highway. court and alley in the city
stores, manufacturing establishments and
| business houses, Is just as much a matter
OF transportation as Is the carrying of peo-
pie In street cars or the moving of coal
hour, lumber or any other commodity over
a railroad.
A Limit to the Supply
| People use water as though there were
pipes are underground and therefore out of
sight, but there actually is a limit to the
| amount of water which can be crowded
through these mains, just as there Is n limit
to the amount of freight which can be car.
ried over railroad or a limit to the number
of persons that can be handled in q con.
gested street during the rush hours. The
force behind the water Is represented by
the pumps Mt the stations which drive the
purified water through the mains.
There Is nothing miraculous about n
water supply. 1t costs dollars and cents
to install the works and it costs dollars and
cents each year to operate them The iorger
the works the greater the cost of instolla
ton and of maintenance. The taynovnrs
pay these bills and they are the rcsidsnts 9
of the city who have at their disposnI and
under their control the 1900, 600 oncninos
through which water may be drawn
1T Is therefore a mistake to assume tho.
water IL free, which many persons evidon,I,. ,I
do from the careless manner in which thay
use it, for 1t actually costs about S4 0no neS
to operate the city water works and in al;
ton there is interest ON the sink,n. s
of about $1,000 900 to carry the invest msnt auma
Wasted Water Is Costly
There Is thus direct relation het,o.,
the amount Of water demanded each Som
and the charge to the taxpayers dircct "MS "S
indirect for their water SUNNY. II o"..a
just as much to furnish a gallon ~ ws,"s
which 10 wasted as It does to furnish a cal.
lon OF water which Is used, and sscS .sffinn
OF water, whether wasted or used, reprsssmta Tn