108 AS TO SERVICES AND METERS 



about right for ordinary average conditions. Obviously some- 

 what varying percentages might be used to meet local conditions, 

 if such a refinement were necessary. The 10 per cent may be 

 assumed to be made up of 6 per cent for interest and 4 per cent 

 for depreciation and repairs, the depreciation being less as the 

 repairs are greater, or to be made up of 5 per cent for interest 

 and 5 per cent for repairs and depreciation. 



The mean cost of a service and f-inch meter in 81 systems 

 reported to the Committee was $26.30, the median was $25.40, 

 and 80 per cent of the terms fall between $17.60 and $34.60. 

 In a similar way the cost of the service and meter, as far as borne 

 by the works amounts to an average of $14.75; the median is 

 $15 and 80 per cent of the terms fall between o and $25.50 per 

 service. 



On the face of the returns, 56 per cent of the combined cost 

 of services and meters are borne by the works, the remaining 44 

 per cent being collected from the takers at the outset. 



These data relate to conditions before the war and do not 

 reflect costs in 1917. 



Cost of Large Services and Meters. The above relates only 

 to services supplied with meters f-inch in diameter. The cost 

 for larger services and meters increases rapidly with the diameter. 

 It also varies greatly with local conditions, such as frost and 

 depth of cover, whether the meters may be set in cellars or 

 must be set in special vaults outside, and other local matters. 



Metering Water for Public Purposes. Water-works systems 

 supply public uses, as, for instance, drinking fountains; water 

 required for flushing sewers; water required for public buildings, 

 including city halls, schoolhouses, etc. ; water used for sprinkling 

 streets. They also supply semi-public uses, such as private 

 schools, churches, educational and charitable institutions. 



In many cases water is supplied for public purposes without 

 charge and for semi-public purposes at reduced rates, and where 

 water is not charged for it has frequently happened that meters 

 have not been applied. 



The only satisfactory way to conduct a water department on 

 the meter system is to meter every service whether public or 



