by Phil Polizatto, WWH/CJE  - The Water Department came by the other day to install a small metering device under the lip of my toilet bowl. When I asked the reason, he said it would provide useful data concerning the amount of water I use, but I was suspicious. He tried to allay my concern by saying it would be useful not only to the Water Department, but to me as well. I might conserve more water after learning how much I really use and thereby have the incentive to flush less. He also warned me that if I tampered with it, it would set off an alarm at the Department’s headquarters, and they would immediately come out to see what was wrong. So not to worry. It was for my own good.