The Experience of the Spring Valley Water Company in Restricting the Waste of Water in San Francisco

Abstract

The conservation of water in San Francisco is far more important than it is in any other city of similar size in the United States. TEe city is located at the extreme tip of a peninsula over 30 miles long, upon which a limited amount of water can be developed. The rainfall is limited, averaging a fraction over 22 inches a year. Due to its geographical isolation, its hilly topography and its scant rainfall, the problem of water supply is not only physically difficult, but is also very costly. An increase in the present developed supply involves the construction of about 60 miles of conduit. On two occasions in the past ten years, it has been expedient to reduce the waste of water to a minimum, the first time following the dry season of 1912-13, and the second time following the year of the PanamaPacific Exposition. In 1913 there were 63/016 services in actual use, of which 43,444 domestic supply services were on a flat-rate basis, and 19,572 devoted to business, industrial and hotel uses were metered. The water rate ordinance passed annually by the legislative board of the city prohibited metering domestic consumers except in extreme cases of wilful waste. Under these conditions, practically the only method that could be used for the restriction of waste was house to house inspection for leaks. This plan was followed out, and considering the fact that only out and out leaks could be controlled and not thoughtless or deliberate waste in the use of water, the results were surprisingly good. Beginning in April and covering a period of eight months, a party of ten men equipped with aquaphones, made an examination of all the unmetered services in the system. The inspection was carried out between midnight and 5.00 a.m., the assumption being that any