!
:
EFFECT OF WASTE PREVENTION.
16. Compare this with the results obtained by an application of the law. In paragraph 20 of the report of the Acting Director of Works for 1893, it is stated-
}
17.
C4
"Every endeavour is being made to reduce the excessive waste "which is constantly going on in private tenements. A Prescribed "Domestic Quantity' is being determined under Section 10 of the "Waterworks Ordinance for all houses in the Colony, and meters are being fixed to ascertain the consumption per head per diem. The quantity' as published in the Gazette has varied from 5 to 18 'gallons per head per diem, and has been fixed proportionally to the rating value of the premises. In the tests made the actual con- Isumption has varied from 45 to 491 gallons per head per diem. "In 76 instances houses have been disconnected from the mains on "account of excessive consumption, and have only been reconnected after a period of between two and three months, and on application "being made in writing by the owners. The following four examples clearly shew the necessity for the action which has been taken -
47
Percentage
Allowance.
Gallons per head per diem.
Consumption Consumption during 1st Test, during 2nd Test.
of Consumption
after application
of law.
Saving in consumption.
Per cert.
1.
11
42.5
9.2
214
784
IL
15
25-9
12.6
481
517
III.
5
16
6.3
60%
IV.
5
16-5
7:0
571
களம்-
Sums.
36
100-9
35.1
151-83
248-16
Means.
9
25.2
8.7
38
62
18. In these particular cases the application of the law reduced the water consumption, on the average, by 62 per cent. How was this brought about? Simply by a little care, and by some minor repairs to fittings.
I will not assume that the same ratio of reduction can be effected over the whole town. These are doubtless selected cases. It is, however, reasonable to suppose that a reduction of 10 per cent. can be made. According to the report cited, the total domestic consumption for 1893 amounted, after deducting water supplies for uon-domestic purposes, to 991 millions of gallons. A saving of 10 per cent. on this amounts to 99 millions, a quantity which would more than suffice to prevent the necessity of resorting to an intermittent supply, provided always there had been reservoir accommodation to store it.
19. In the 23rd paragraph of the report cited, the Acting Director of Works makes an observation which I beg to support -
“Great assistance might be rendered in checking the waste of "water which goes on if the occupiers of houses would occasionally "examine their taps and other fittings and report any defects.
In many cases the substitution of a new for an old washer would be "all that would be found necessary."
20. It should be made clear to the public that the scarcity of water which has occurred, and the demand which has consequently arisen for the expenditure of large sums of money for new works, sums which will have to be paid by the people, are mainly, if not entirely, due to waste of water; a loss of public property which it is in their power to prevent. I do not assert that no extension is necessary, but I maintain that the first step to be taken is to check the waste of water, by applying the provisions of the Water Ordinance. It is clear from the annual reports of the Director of Public Works that both he and the officers of his staff are fully alive to this evil, and that steps have been taken by the Water Authority to enforce these provisions. The con- tinuance of these efforts should receive the strongest support of the Govern- ment. I trust that they will also receive the support of the public in this matter. A little individual care and watchfulness in this matter will do as much as, even more than, the exertions of a public body can possibly do.
21. Even if the supply be materially augmented, vigilance in prevention of waste will always be necessary. If no supervision be exercised, if things be allowed to relapse to the condition in which they were prior to 1890, the consumption of water would increase to an enormous extent. I am acquainted with several cities where, owing to lax administration, "water famines" ocenr periodically, though the minimum supply in the driest seasons is at the rate of from 40 to 60 gallons per head per day. To construct works of such magnitude as to provide so liberal a supply would be, if not beyond the range of practical engineering, a gross waste of public money.
22. The provisions of the Water Ordinance as regards waste must be firmaly enforced. When people see that negligence is promptly punished by the disconnection of their tenement, their attention will be awakened to the necessity for care. The procedure under the Ordinance is somewhat arbitrary. It seems hard to cut off the water from a group of houses, because the inmates of one or two tenements obstinately refuse to prevent waste. It must however be remembered that in many instances it is impossible to treat them separately, and that we are dealing with a population unaccustomed to a water supply, and which requires to be educated to its use. In educating the ignorant, drastic measures must be adopted.
23. To relieve those who really wish to exercise reasonable economy, it might be well to enact that any bond-fide landlord who wished to exempt any tenements from the action of Clauses 10-14 of the Water Ordinance, might, on guaranteeing to pay the water rate, be supplied by meter, as in the case of non-domestic supplies.
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