THE LOAD FACTOR 



117 



must run at the moderate rating - - or 2.67 per cent of the 



37-4 



time; and its load factor is thus 2.67 per cent. 



For a large water-works system for 1916, where there was an 

 opportunity to examine in considerable detail the records of the 

 meters, the following conditions with respect to load factors 

 were found. 



Of 3567 meters, J-inch and over, 224 or 6.3 per cent of the 

 whole number, carry a load of less than o.i per cent, or one- 

 thousandth of their normal capacity. These meters are mainly 

 2 inches and over and are practically all on services used only 

 for fire purposes and not for furnishing water. Excluding these, 

 those that remain do supply water for ordinary uses and the fol- 

 lowing conditions were found: 



The average load factor for all of these meters was 6.5 per 

 cent. 



The load factors for the sizes taken separately differed 

 little and the figures for all may be taken as applying substan- 

 tially to each size J inch and over. 



The size of meter that is used in each case depends more 

 upon the whim of the taker and the idea of the superintendent 

 or foreman who sets it than upon any logical consideration of 

 the business. The variations found * in this example are too 

 large for a sound business basis and should be reduced. 



Most of the meters that run on very high load factors are on 

 services supplying water through tanks, and in such cases, as 



