WATER WASTAGE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1938, Page 8

WATER WASTAGE

DETECTION & PREVENTION ROLE OF HOUSEHOLDER. I HOW SAVINGS CAN BE MADE. An informative article on water! wastage by Mr J. Arthur Rodwell, M.Inst.C.E.' has been circularised by the British Waterworks Association, in which certain facts are brought to light that are of interest to Masterton residents, especially in view of the restrictions that are enforced here on the use of water almost every summer. It is certain, states Mr Rodwell, that with the increasing value of water, the importance of waste and means of overcoming it cannot be gainsaid. With the rapid increase in the number of and types of domestic apparatus which consume water in their operation, facilities for using water unneccessarily are presenting themselves in greater degree than ever; there is surely a point beyond which ‘'undue consumption" should be considered as waste. A dripping tap, a faulty ballvalve or a burst service pipe are all acknowledged as wasteful and must be repaired without delay, but the habitual flushing of a w.c. when passing backwards and forward on household duties, allowing the kitchen tap to rim for long periods in order to "sweetLhe drains" or using a hose-pipe on a paved yard or flags (where two or three buckets of water and a hard broom would be more effective, are frequently looked upon as commendably clean matters of routine based on high hygienic principles. It has frequently been asserted that the higher the standard of living the greater is the consumption of water, but it does not necessarily follow that the actual cleanliness of an individual or the health of a community is in direct proportion to the amount of water “consumed.” Many thoughtless acts of ordinary' domestic life lead to a household consumption much in excess of what it ought to be. It has been found that preventable waste of water has in a number of cases exceeded the amount actually used for domestic purposes. If the extravagant use of water could be prevented, the figure for “domestic consumption” would undoubtedly be maintained at a reasonable level without detriment to sanitation or personal cleanliness. Leakage from domestic fittings undoubtedly accounts for the major part of water wasted, and too much emphasis cannot be laid on the necessity of installing or permitting to be installed, fittings which conform with the highest standards only and by insisting upon the examination by properly qualified inspectors of all fittings used. Proceeding to discuss ways and means of preventing waste, Mr Rodwell refers to various measures adopted by engineers and points out that the cooperation of every member of the community, educated and encouraged along right lines, can go far in aiding local authorities to keep down waste and, what is important to the ratepayers, reduce the cost of production. He cites an instance of an experience of a water engineer who has made a practice of giving lectures on water supply to schools within his area of administration—with the whole-hearted co-opera-tion of education committees, directors, masters and teachers —and has received great encouragement from the keenness of all scholars. From one school alone within three months of one oi his lectures he received reports ol not less than 4G cases of wastage; 29 dribbling taps averaging 50 gallons per day; four running taps averaging 160 gallons per day; eight defective cisternvalves averaging 140 gallons per day, and five leaking service pipes averaging 500 gallons per day representing a total wastage of over 5700 gallons per day. Users of water whose supplies are controlled by meter have no difficulty in tracing waste on their service system, and can check with ease every undue' consumption on their premises. The majority of authorities in England now replace defective washers free of charge. So long as the supply is given without means of registration the householder has it solely in his power to be as extravagant or as economical as he wishes in the use of water. That the general tendency is to be extravagant in normal times is proved by the more careful use in times of difficulty. Those authorities which have already adopted a system of metering for all supplies, domestic as well as trade and municipal, claim that the system has gone far to reducing thoughtless consumption and misuse, and that contrary to the anticipation of critics, the health of the community has in no way suffered by reasons of the measuring ol domestic supplies. The development ol the modern household meter, alike to register mere trickles of water, and obtainable at a cost low enough to become an economic investment by reason of water saved, supplies undertaken with a -means of registering the water used in even small domestic establishments. As a prevention of waste, says Mr Rodwell, the value of metering is obvious and as a means of curtailing undue consumption of water, it has proved itself efficient. It is of interest to note that members of the Municipal Association of New Zealand are entitled to receive free of charge an opinion on water supply matters from Mr E. R. McKillop, M.Inst.C.E., of Wellington.