Year: 1879

The waste Of water ii this city, as shown
by the late report Of the Commissioner Of
Public Works, is scandalous; it would scarce
II be e1aggeraton to characterize it as
wicked. The daily consumption Of 122 gal
Ions, or considerably more than hogshead,


Of water, by every man, woman, and child
is simply preposterous: but that is the av-


erage amount actually consumed in Chicago.
It would seem to require systematic and


1abored wastefulness, for the mere purpose


of wasting, to use up $500, 600 gallons of


water every twenty-four hours in this city.


We venture to say that it is nearly as much


water as the vast cities Of London and Paris


consume. The consumption has grown from


80 gallons per day to each inhabitant, which


was the average consumption in 1858, to 122
gallons, as stated; that is to soy, it has quad


rupled in the last twenty years. II the


people could get along comfortably with


q water-supply Of 80 gallons in 1858, as


WAS the case, nothing but the most


persistent wastefulness could bring about
consumption Of four times IS much now. It
is true that Ohioago's exceptional facilities
for obtaining an unlimited water-supply
warrants liberal use thereof, and the agency
of running water in sanitary way is of un-
disputed value; at the same time, the present
rate of consumption, together with pros
pect for proporhonate increase with the
growth Of the city, is an oppression upon
taxpayers, because it will necessitate new
pumping-works, additional tunnels, and en-
larged mains to continue the supply. The
continued supply Of water at the present
rate will result in cost of millions Of dollars
to the city, III addition to the amounts &C
tua1ly paid by the ranters..


This wastefulness can be traced easily
enough in general way, though it is almost
impossible to 61 responsibility upon any
particular persons. In summer the property
owners OF Chicago are accustomed to irri-
gate their land and water the streets from the
supply the owner Of a house aud a
lot twenty-five feet front, paying So per year
for the use of hose, frequently supplies
water from his hose for the dower-beds.
front steps, and the street for SO and 100
feet cn each side of him In winter there is
no charge for the hose, but nearly as much
water is wasted BY allowing the hydrants to
run night and day in order to keep the pipes
from fraezing. This is the easiest way to pro-
tect tile pipes, and the fact that the city suf-
fers from the universal water waste it neces-
states is matter Of no concern to the
average householder, if, indeed, he eever gives
it any thought. The water in private houses
IS wasted in variety Of ways in both winter
and summer. The cook finds it easier to let
the kitchen-hydrant run all the time than to
turn the water on and off as it is needed. In
the bathroom there is one or more faucets
turned On almost all the time. In the barn
the coachman has no more interest than the
cook in saving water, but is chiefly concerned
IN saving himself trouble. Many persona;
utterly ignorant OF sanitary laws, are in the
habit of opening the escape Of their water
closets overnight whenever bad smell is
noticed in tha house, with the idea that the
running water will wash away tho mephitic:
Bewer- ggasas, whereas, as matter of fact, the
opening Of tbs ralve only gives these gases
3 frse escape throughout the houss. These