Sessional_Paper_1902 — Page 550

454

16

Prevention of wanton

waste.

Original

draft Ordi-

as in

also practised, as far as the available staff will permit, so that there can be little

doubt that the house-services are maintained in as good a condition. well-regulated town.

any other

45. Though the gross consumption of water is not great, especially for a tropical town, and though there may be but little negligent waste, there is evidence to shew that there is much wanton waste. Now, inspection, no matter how perfect, is practically impotent to check wanton waste. The law may make it penal to leave a tap open, but it is usually impossible to bring the offence home to an indivi- dual, and so secure a conviction. I learn however that prosecutions have, not infrequently, led to convictions. One may, indeed, shut off the service, but to do so is to punish many, for the offence of one. The only way to check wanton waste is to measure the consumption of water, in each tenement, by means of meters, and to charge an adequate price for all water consumed, over and above a prescribed quantity.

46. It is to be regretted that the Water Ordinance of 1890 was not passed, as nance of 1890 Originally drafted. The said draft Ordinance was discussed and approved by the not passed- Draft of 10th Sanitary Board and by the Executive Council. It contained the following clause: June, 1890.(16.) The Water Authority may direct that the supply of water taken or used by

Application of powers given by cxisting Onlinance.

The pre- scribed

method of

of waste prevention compared with meterage.

31

"or through any service shall be measured or regulated by means of a meter or "otherwise as may be provided by any Regulations made hereuler: thus, con- templating the general use of meters. The word "may" was probably used be- cause, at the time that the Ordinance was drafted, the water-works were not in full operation, and, therefore, it was hoped that the ordinary precautions against negli- gent waste would suffice to keep the consumption within bounds.

Be this as

it may, the clause in question was strongly objected to, by the Unofficial members of Council, on the ground that it would be most inconvenient to owners of house property, who would have to control their tenants, or pay for the water which the latter wasted. The Ordinance was re-drafted, I will not say amended, and passed, in the form in which it now stands. Clauses 10 to 13, inclusive, (Ordinance 16 of 1890), were inserted in lieu of the objected to clause, which permitted the general use of meters. It was hoped that these clauses would suffice to keep consumption within reasonable bounds. I venture to believe that if meters were introduced together with a proper scale of charges, the consumption of water would be so reduced, that the necessity for restriction would never recur, or at least be a rare, instead of a normal, occurrence.

47. The powers, given by Ordinance 16 of 1890, have been several times applied by Mr. COOPER, and from his various reports, it appears that in every instance a most marked reduction has been brought about by its application (cide Annual Reports of Director of Public Works.) I find, however, that of recent years, these provisions have not been enforced, partly on account of inadequate staff, partly because of the prevalence of intermittent supply, during which the system is inapplicable. The powers of the Ordinance do not appear to have ever been applied, on a comprehensive scale, but rather as an experiment to demonstrate the existence of waste.

48. The method of waste prevention, prescribed by the existing Ordinance is, to say the least, cumbrous, and somewhat difficult of application. If applied generally, a large staff of Inspectors would be required. The construction of rider-mains, as herein before described, would much facilitate the application of these clauses. The test-meters might be left in place permanently, and read occasionally, and if waste existed in any block of tenements, the supply to them might be shut off, as the law directs. The numerous test meters would, however, have to be provided and maintained by the Government, instead of at the expense of the individual as would be the case, if the general use of meters, provided for in the Draft Ordinance, were adopted. The actual maintenance is performed by Government, but the cost thereof is covered by the meter-rent, which covers also interest and sinking-fund.