Water Water Everywhere
Just expounding on the recent Tribune article:
- Chicago meter readers will be able to measure residents' water use by driving down the street instead of walking up to the homes under a $40 million program to install electronic transmitters in 162,000 commercial and residential properties, city officials said Thursday.
The three-year program to convert manual-read meters is a precursor to installing water meters citywide in homes and small apartment buildings that don't have them.
Aside from the $40 million contract that's going to enrich a bunch of connected plumbing contractors, a bunch of this water business annoys us.
- We were reading how the Millennium Park Crown fountain uses a couple million gallons of water.
- Those concrete fountain monstrosities that adorn various neighborhoods and public buildings (like in front of 26/Cal) that use thousands of gallons on a regular basis.
- The median planters that are watered regularly to maintain the greenery Daley so loves - we've watched those trucks fill up at city hydrants every morning for years now.
- Wide open hydrants across certain neighborhoods, sometimes leading the injury and death of children playing in them.
- Construction projects that hook up to hydrants with specially made adapters for on-site water service.
- Private pools being filled by certain connected city workers.
- The tens of millions spent on reflecting pools in Douglas Park and other Park District properties, many of which are filled with garbage and algae and end up breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
Would it be wrong to hope that all of these problems (which probably waste a few billion gallons of water) have been rectified and the bills are being sent out to violators as we type? Or should we just assume that the law abiding taxpayers are, once again, taking it in the shorts to supply connected crooked contracts to politically connected entities?
We'll figure it's door number two.
We'll figure it's door number two.
Labels: city politics
posted by SCC at 12:46 AM
47 Comments:
Don't forget park district sprinklers left on 24/7 all summer.
Bear in mind that the Water Department is the largest patronage spot in the City of Chicago.
The Water Department generates the mostvrevenue, of any city departments (including the CPD) for the City of Chicago.
Chicago has the world's largest filtration plant,Jardine Water Plant.
The James W. Jardine Water Purification Plant in Chicago processes nearly one billion gallons of water on an average day. Chicago's Department of Water believes Jardine is the largest water treatment plant in the world. That plant and one other, the South Water Purification Plant, serve nearly five million consumers in the city and 118 outlying suburbs.
The next world wars will be fought over fresh water not oil. We sit on the largest body of fresh water in the world, "The Great Lakes".
Chicago is currently being sued in the world court for overuseage of water by Canada. Chicago is claiming that the Lake Michigan Locks are the cause. Whatever the outcome, expect fresh water to become expensive soon, this is the rationale for water meters.
Is anyone aware of the City of Chicago's hiring freeze on new employees? Quite interesting,that is the official line. I bet is doesn't hold water, no pun intended.
There is a huge pipeline of water/juice between the CPD and the Water Department.
What about all of the parks that have water playgrounds. THEY RUN ALL NIGHT while the parks are technically closed. Since it would be impossible for someone to go out every morning and evening to manually turn them on and shut them off, set those up with a water timer from the time the parks open until closing time. Huge savings on water usage with a fairly simple device.
Ok SCC lets just eliminate all the fountains, pools, ponds and everthing else that spews water, too bad not you!
That would make for an attractive city, except the part about you!
I have a four flat with a water meter and pay less than the $600 a year flat fee by nearly half. I have a typical lawn and tons of plants in the back that are water daily in the summer. This might work out better for the majority of homes than the flat fee. I don't have a problem with metering water and charging for it...you should be aware of how much you are using and maybe for some people it will remind them of this important resource. As for the plumbers that get the contract that is par for the course in Chicago...just hope they are union plumbers and then I have no problem with that.
WOW. THATS ALOT OF WATER HOW ABOUT THE DRINKING FOUNTAINS IN ALL THE PARKS. BUCKINGHAM FOUNTAIN IS ON ALL SUMMER. WHAT ABOUT ALL THOSE FIRES THAT HAPPEN IN THE CITY SHOULDNT THE HOME OWNER HAVE TO REPAY THE CITY.
JUST CHILL OUT ON WATERING YOUR NICE 35 X 125 GREEN LAWN AND YOU SHOULD BE ALL RIGHT.
How about the water fountains in the city parks that are always on in the middle of the night.
Give those people with those large backyard pools a heavy city tax charge.
Yea I can see the west side paying this bill NOT!
Yep! It is us again paying! In the pilsen area for example and in other districts hydrants are constantly open 24/7 even with no one in them! YOU MEAN TO TELL WITH WITH ALL THE TECH WE HAVE NOW WE CANNOT EVEN DEVELOP A HYDRANT CAP TO BE SOMEWHAT FOOLPROOF? LETS WASTE MORE WATER DALEY! YOUR A GREAT MAYOR AT LEAST THAT IS WHAT YOU TELL YOURSELF!
U are corret I can not agree with you more.. The city wastes more water than anyone else. Except the fire hydrants that are opened in ghetto neighborhoods that run till cars/ basements are under water. The city contends that a water meter would not increase your bill from what you are paying now. So why spend millions to install water meters? answer.... so the Daley insiders can get rich.... scam scam scam.. where is the media on this kind of stuff... Walter Jacoboson where are u??? Why don't you report on things that matter?
How about a tax on those homes with the large backyard pools? How about ticketing those homes which do not have their address on the garages, as required by city ordinance? Ever go to a job with a disturbance in an alley and can't find a number?
You want to look for water check out this site they steal millions of gallons of water from city hydrants daily and use it to make themselves richer... Maybe someone can post a picture of them hooking thier trucks up to fire hydrants around the Bridgeport neighborhood.
http://www.elginsweeping.com/index.htm
pictures of all the trucks they use and everything... they are owned apparently by a politically connected company called Jos. Caciatore co.
click on their site to see how connected they are..
http://www.jos-cacciatore.com/default.html
Ok SCC lets just eliminate all the fountains, pools, ponds and everthing else that spews water, too bad not you!
That would make for an attractive city, except the part about you!
We never said eliminate...how about we learn to "conserve?" Figure out how to make a closed loop system where the city isn't wasting billions of gallons?
Nice childish insult by the way. Asshat. Learn to read what's written. If you can't see that middle class homeowners are about to take a hosepipe up the ass, we really feel sorry for you.
Turn the hydrants to face the homeowners. That might stop a lot of ghetto use. Not to many people will fit on a sidewalk and the pressure would probably send them into the building causing injury.
Anonymous said...
You want to look for water check out this site they steal millions of gallons of water from city hydrants daily and use it to make themselves richer... Maybe someone can post a picture of them hooking thier trucks up to fire hydrants around the Bridgeport neighborhood.
http://www.elginsweeping.com/index.htm
pictures of all the trucks they use and everything... they are owned apparently by a politically connected company called Jos. Caciatore co.
click on their site to see how connected they are..
http://www.jos-cacciatore.com/default.html
7/17/2007 10:52:00 AM
I wonder how much they have donated to Daley over the years. Can someone find out, out there? Media?
boy its nice to rent! no taxes, no assessments, niiiiice
Wake up people "How do you think that this bullshit Olympic is going to be payed for???
Everyday the city fathers find a new way to shake down the citizens of this city.
Remember extra fees for take out food,
increase property taxes,
increase taxes on gasoline, increases on cigarettes, beer, alcohol
increase on city licenses for businesses
increases on some parking violations
you pay more for milk in the midwest then any other place in the country,
increase on medical insurances increase on school tutitions increases on public parking increases on public transportation,
increases on utilities
increases on groceries
increases on rent
NOW that we are in this increase mode: Will we see an INCREASE in our salaries??????
The Union will get the police: Water meters on their homes first as part of the new contract.
How much more can city workers give to this prick daley? You cant send your kid to a public school and now hes after the water. What a no good jaggoff daddys boy daley is.
>>>>The next world wars will be fought over fresh water not oil. We sit on the largest body of fresh water in the world, "The Great Lakes".<<<<
I dunno....desalination will probbably advance, we will be fine. Besides, by then, the US will be overthrown. We will be mexico. It will be mexico vs. canada for the great lakes. Mounties vs. guys with rakes. What's the over under?
I'm sure Mt Greenwood will get the water meters first, just like we got the recycle bins. How are the recycle bins working out on the West side?
West side doesnt use water to water lawns. They do have alot of dripping faucets, use water for Kool-aid and wash cars. But they will probably get breaks like they do for gas meters
How about all the leaking showers and faucets at the academy?!?!? I'm pretty sure there is more water wasted there in a day than used at my house all month!
It will be mexico vs. canada for the great lakes. Mounties vs. guys with rakes. What's the over under?
7/17/2007 03:57:00 PM
I'll take the Mexicans...those lil' fuckers can box!!!
"West side doesnt use water to water lawns. They do have alot of dripping faucets, use water for Kool-aid and wash cars. But they will probably get breaks like they do for gas meters"
No but they open Fire hydrants every time it gets over 80 degrees& never pay a water Bill. Let alone Gas& Electric those two bills are rising because YOU SUBSIDIZE THEM,DALEY WANTS YOU TO DO THE SAME WITH WATER BILLS. IT'S ALL PART OF HIS APPEASEMENT CAMPAIGN FOR PEOPLE THAT BEAR NO PERSONAL RESPONSIBILTY. HEY HE WANTS HIS OLYMPICS,BY HOOK OR CROOK
There is already a call for a pipeline to bring Great Lakes waters to the southwestern U.S. The Federal government is really the one in control of the lake water.
Rumor also is that if you pull a building permit for any home renovations what-so-ever, you will automatically be put on a list to have a meter installed.
Looks like there will be a rash of substandard home improvement projects being undertaken in this city, in the very near future!
The biggest waste of water in the city is the faulty locker-room toilets in 025.
The Union will get the police: Water meters on their homes first as part of the new contract.
The Chicago Police have no Union.
FOP is not a union.
Did anyone see sundays Tribune? Big article about how BP Amoco is going to be dumping huge amounts of sludge in lake Michigan with approval of Indiana? WTF! The great lakes will be the great waste!
How does installing water meters raise money for the city? Unless water bills skyrocket, which they will to recoup the tremendous outlay to install the meters. A 1996 city study quoted the cost of installing meters in the 325,000 houses at about $350M. How much today?
Hmm...
City workers...7 man crew? Some one to turn the wrench, someone to make sure the pipe doesn't escape...
Probably do about 2 installs a day.
Just another bill for the "getto" people to go Rainbow PUSH. "Please give me another handout," pay another of my utility bill Rev. Jesse, I feel I'm being oppressed again." I have my rent a center big screen t.v. Fancy suv with 24" rims. But, the man is keeping me down. They will never have to pay. It's us the working people all the fucking time. If we don't pay, they chase us, garnish our wages. We will work harder so they don't have too!
They are going to start putting coin deposits on all city urinals, toliets, and water fountains too. Baths at Buckingham fountain will cost $5.00 & must use enviorMENTAL soap which cost an additional $8.00. IT's not going to happen on my watch LOL! Bums need baths too!
How about a tax on those homes with the large backyard pools? How about ticketing those homes which do not have their address on the garages, as required by city ordinance? Ever go to a job with a disturbance in an alley and can't find a number?
7/17/2007 10:51:00 AM
You got an address on your garage, dork?
Anonymous said...
How about all the leaking showers and faucets at the academy?!?!? I'm pretty sure there is more water wasted there in a day than used at my house all month!
7/17/2007 06:30:00 PM
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Not to worry, the Park Dist. is paying for all of the renovations to the Academy Gym and Locker rooms, in exchange for a satelitte office located on the "dock area" of the academy.
Any takers on how long before the academy becomes a park district facility?
Anonymous said...
Did anyone see sundays Tribune? Big article about how BP Amoco is going to be dumping huge amounts of sludge in lake Michigan with approval of Indiana? WTF! The great lakes will be the great waste!
7/17/2007 11:27:00 PM
Right on the money,nobody is paying attention. British Petroleum has made record profits since 9/11 yet claims that it is too cost prohibitive to properly dispose of this toxic sludge byproduct at the indiana refinery.
The State Government of Indiana is allowing them to dump tens of thousands of tons of toxic waste into our drinking water. I am no Greenpeace Lefty, but where the hell is the Federal EPA????
This pisses me off massively, WTF...
The law in the "good ole US of A" is beyond fucked as the Mette case demonstrates. If a student in a highschool breaks a thermometer and lets a drop of mercury hit the floor, it is a FEDERAL EMERGENCY.
The school will be evacuated and closed down until a federal EPA team can come out and clean the drop up at a cost of tens of thousands of dollars. Yet, dumping tens of thousands of pounds of toxic sluge dumped into our drinking water is A OKAY????
WTF???
As kids we used to play with mercury
"Any takers on how long before the academy becomes a park district facility?
7/18/2007 05:00:00 PM"
Well you'll know for certain when the last neighborhood holdouts come sulking across the street to play sum bakitball& goes to the jimmsto lifts some waits. If Chuck Williams gets the nod that will be the reality. Tobias will be refing games in the gym& handing out towels to the fellas. Wait& see.
Anonymous said...
How does installing water meters raise money for the city? Unless water bills skyrocket, which they will to recoup the tremendous outlay to install the meters. A 1996 city study quoted the cost of installing meters in the 325,000 houses at about $350M. How much today?
Hmm...
City workers...7 man crew? Some one to turn the wrench, someone to make sure the pipe doesn't escape...
Probably do about 2 installs a day.
7/18/2007 01:08:00 AM
HOW MANY MORE BROKEN PIPES WILL WE HAVE? HOW MUCH DAMAGE TO OUR HOMES FROM INSTALLERS! MOST LIKELY WOULD BE LIKE THE SHIT COMCAST WHERE A GANG BANGER COMES TO INSTALL CABLE THEN RUINS YOUR HOME!
pictures of all the trucks they use and everything... they are owned apparently by a politically connected company called Jos. Caciatore co.
click on their site to see how connected they are..
These vehicles hold in excess of 3,500 gallons of water, and, through their high pressure pumps, deliver it to sweeping surfaces at pressures in excess of 100psi. These high pressure sprays help in other ways, too. When used in roadways and arterials, they are capable of flushing debris off low center mediums and on to adjacent roadways, where it is swept up immediately.
let's not forget the driver that sits in the truck and sleeps or reads while the plumber and laborer install the water meters
what a joke
If we are going to have to pay exorbitant rates for water, I want mine clean and carcinogen free. When is any Illinois politician going to standup and say something about BP dumping tons of toxic sludge into Lake Michigan?
They literally spent 25 years trying to cleanup the PCB's and other toxic waste from the Great Lakes and now they are letting this BS occur.
Expect three headed fish and no swimming or boating in parts of Lake Michigan in a few years.
US Congressman Mark Kirk-R,has now taken up this issue and rightly so.
Mark Kirk is a good guy,I wish he was a little more conservative on some issues but he's a Northshore Republican. He did serve his country as a Naval Intel Officer and has put some good legislation forth.
Keep up the goodwork Mark and stop the toxic dumping into our drinking and recreational water.
Is it true that the City of Chicago purchases all of its fuel from BP?
If so,BP is the corporation poisoning Chicago's water by dumping 6,400 pounds of toxic sludge into our drinking water on a daily basis. Nice job, Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Lawns?, West side?, You must be drunk or insane.
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