52 GRAPHICAL COMPARISON OF METER RATES 



PHILADELPHIA, PENNA. 

 (Taker Pays for Service Meter, and for Distribution Pipe in Street) 



MINIMUM METER RATES AND QUANTITIES OF WATER ALLOWED THEREFOR 



For |-inch ferrule $8 .00 minimum 8,000 cubic feet 



| 12.00 12,000 



f 18.00 18,000 



1 32.00 32,000 



1 1 50 . 00 50,000 



i| 75-oo 75 ; ooo 



2 130.00 130,000 



3 290 .00 290,000 



4 5i5-oo 5*5,000 



6 1150.00 1,150,000 



All water in excess of the quantity hereinabove fixed for any metered 

 connection shall be charged for at the rate of forty (40) cents per one thou- 

 sand (1000) cubic feet. 



(Plotted in Fig. 9.) 



It may be noted in connection with this that the whole cost of the 

 mains in the streets is assessed against the abutters when the pipes are 

 laid. With this system of charging for mains lower rates per 1000 cubic 

 feet naturally result than would otherwise be possible. 



It is also to be noted that the size of the tap or ferrule is made the basis 

 of the service charge instead of the customary size of meter. 



Mr. Carleton E. Davis, Chief of 'the Bureau of Water, Philadelphia, 

 states that each minimum is composed of an interest and sinking fund con- 

 tribution ($5.00 for the ^-inch ferrule, $8.00 for the f-inch ferrule, etc.), 

 plus the cost at 40 cents per 1000 cubic feet of the volume of water that 

 is allowed for the minimum charge, and that this schedule in effect 

 creates a wholesale rate, but it is peculiar in that the wholesale rate can 

 be enjoyed as fully by the smallest concern doing business as by its 

 largest competitor. . All that is necessary is that sufficient water at the 

 uniform rate of 40 cents per 1000 cubic feet shall be drawn through any 

 one connection in order that the interest and sinking fund contribution 

 from that connection shall be practically absorbed in the charge for-water. 

 As that contribution is proportional to the carrying capacity of the sev- 

 eral connections, the smallest has the same ability to absorb its contribu- 

 tion as the largest. 



