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CIV. DISCUSSION. 
From my experience of some of the larger American 
cities, it cannot be gainsaid that there is an enormous 
amount of waste, in some instances it is calculated that 
from 40 to 50% of the water passing from the mains is 
wasted, and the water authorities in America are awaken- 
ing to this fact, and every effort is being made in the direc- 
tion of checking the waste. In New York city the admin- 
istration of water distribution is not of the soundest, as the 
City Hall dominates the same and Tammany dominates the 
administration. There is no doubt that if the legitimate 
consumption ever reaches that of New York, the present 
catchment area would be far too small to cope with such 
demands. The value of high pressure water is not so great 
as at what might be termed the Kenny Hill period. At 
that time the supply of power for commercial purposes by 
gas or oil engines, electrical, or hydraulic power was not to 
any extent known, and it can be quite understood the value 
power would have obtained from high pressure mains. 
With regard to fire fighting, the trend of opinion in 
America where the cities abut on harbours and rivers, is to 
lay force mains along the levels with branches along the 
principal fire zones, and pump the water by pumps in sec- 
tions on Jand or fire-floats. Ido not think it would be 
economical to bring pressure water from a long distance 
for fire fighting purposes in the city, where any pressure 
could be obtained by the method referred to. 
The scheme outlined by the Chairman when President 
of the Metropolitan Board of Water Supply and Sewerage 
forms a valuable adjunct to the metropolitan system and 
the area should be added to the existing watershed—there 
is no doubt that the expansion of the metropolitan supply 
will necessitate this being done—and it is to be hoped that 
although reserved from alienation, it should be made a 
substantive part of the metropolitan system. 
