424 Report S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



house purposes. It would not be unjust to put such a price on 

 garden watering that on an average the rate paid for it would be 

 higher than for water used in the house. If the consumer does not 

 intend to use water on his garden, all outside taps should be removed, 

 so that there may be no temptation. The water inspectors will know 

 those who pay for garden water, and if they observe a garden which 

 has no right to water looking surprisingly green, they will watch, and if 

 they discover the irrigator at work prosecute him. A few spare 

 meters kept to put on the pipes of consumers who are suspected 

 of abusing their privileges will give useful information, so that 

 occasionally an offender will be convicted. If a penalty be exacted 

 others will take warning. 



Table IV. gives the tariff in some towns. 



3. Payment by the Quantity Consumed. 



It is so natural to charge for any commodity by the quantity 

 taken, that it appears to be necessary to make out a strong case to 

 justify any other procedure. And yet there are comparatively few 

 towns where water is supplied solely by meter. Berlin was one of 

 the first of these, and by 1878 the supply was given in no other 

 way. Other towns in all parts of the world have followed the 

 example, but in America the system has been taken up more keenly 

 than anywhere else. The points brought out in its favour are : — 



1. Each consumer is himself responsible for the amount he is 

 charged, and consequently the payment is just. 



2. Owing to all consumers having an interest in the prevention 

 of waste, the quantity of water used is restricted, and consequently 

 the supply of water available will go further. 



There are two systems of charging by quantity. (i) The 

 dribble system, where the supply-pipe is restricted in diameter, so 

 that the discharge only amounts to a limited quantity per month. 

 For this system cisterns are a necessity, and it is objectionable to 

 have to draw drinking water through a cistern. The consumer thus 

 for a certain payment has a limited quantity of water supplied in a 

 continuous small flow. This system is used at Cape Town. (2) The 

 meter system, where the quantity drawn by any customer is not 

 restricted, but it is measured and he is charged accordingly. He is 

 charged for the water used, and, in addition, is generally charged 

 a rent for the meter. A minimum is fixed (say 1,000 gallons per 

 month), which must be paid for, and thus customers have nothing 

 to save by taking less than that quantity. 



Meters. 



It is presumed that the type of meter employed is one which will 

 record accurately. Many Municipalities know to their cost that 



