86 THE SERVICE CHARGE 



There are no adequate data upon which this loss can be 

 computed, and the Committee sees no way of securing such data 

 at this time. Nevertheless it believes that the matter is an 

 important one and that a substantial allowance should be made 

 for such losses. It suggests for the present the use of $2 per 

 annum for this item. 



Upon this basis the service charge will amount to the sum 

 of these parts, namely, first, 10 per cent of the average invest- 

 ment of the works in service pipe and meter; second, $i per 

 annum for reading meters, billing and collecting; third, $2 per 

 annum for probable value of unregistered water. For a domestic 

 service with f -inch meter, the ordinary service charge may prop- 

 erly be $3, where service and meter are paid for by the taker; 

 $4 where the meter is furnished by the works; and $5 or $6 

 where both meter and service pipe are paid for by the works, 

 the lower figure being used where the average cost of a service 

 pipe is under $15, the higher where it is greater than $15. 



The figures used in the above paragraphs should be considered 

 only as general approximations, to be modified to meet established 

 local conditions, or upon more complete data. The Committee 

 suggests that the method is of first importance and should be first 

 discussed and settled, and that the values to be then used under 

 it should always be selected with reference to the conditions 

 in each plant for which a service charge is to be established. 



Service Charges for Large Meters. Service charges for 

 large meters should be based in a general way upon their carry- 

 ing capacity. The carrying capacities of different meters of 

 the same size vary greatly, and it is no easy matter to get a 

 general basis that will be sufficiently accurate at all points. 

 The Committee considers in a general way that a 2 -inch meter 

 is equivalent in discharging capacity to ten f-inch meters, and 

 it takes a 2 -inch meter as the starting point for the discussion. 



Comparison may be made on the basis of areas, that is, by 

 the squares of the diameters. In the case of larger meters, this 

 is nearly accurate. In the case of smaller ones, the diameters 

 used to designate the meters are understood to be nominal and 

 may differ somewhat from the exact figures. Nevertheless, the 



