Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-07-12
BETTER WATER FOR THE CITY.
Important Recommendations Of Col.
Geo. II. Elliot In His Annual Report.

Geo. H. Elliot In His Annual Report.
HIS PLAS yon OBTAINING PuRER AND cLEAnxl
wArER-HI PROPOSES TO CONVERT THE DIE
uexp RxcRrvrxe RESERVOIR INTO A SETTLING
BAsiS-HIs EsfINATE OF THE COST.
| The annual report Of Col Geo. II. Elliot
corps OF engineers, officer in charge Of ht
water supply of Washington, was submitted Il
the chief of engineers yesterday morning. i
Is vouminous and careful resume Of the In
Vulnerable details connected with the wori
under the efficient charge Of that officer, and
contains several important recommendation
as to the Improvement Of tho quality Of the
water supplied to Washington and its suburbs
CLEARER WATER SHOULD BE FURNISHED.
He remarks: ''The aqueduct and the works
connected with it are generally in excellen,
condition, but there are several improvements
mainly in respect TO the quality Of the watel
furnished to the city and the protection OF the
conduit, that are urgently needed. Now that
the city is everywhere sbundantly supplied
| win water except ct o few points where its
prope' distribution is interfered with by the
small size and internal corrosion OF the street
| mains and service pipes, the most important
work to be done in connection with the aaue
| duct Is to furnish the city with better water.
| or since the water of the Potomac brought
from the Great Falls is. I am convinced, per-
fectly wholesome at all times, it would be more
correct to say with clearer water. During the
last winter and spring. when the new gate
chamber was being constructed in the dam of
the distributing reservoir and the 4S-inch
main was being connected with
the reservoir, it was necessary. as
the receiving reservoir has been for several
years out OF service. to empty the former and
to bring the water directly to the city from
Great Falls without giving it any time what
ever for depositing the earthly matter carried
down to the upper Potomac and its tributaries
and most abundantly in winter and early spring
by reason of the alternate freezing and thaw-
ing of the ground.
The muddness Of the water supplied to the
city was more noticeable during portion of
last year, for the reason Just given, but it il q
defect that has always existed"
CONDITION OF WATER AT GREAT FALLS
Tables followed to show the condition Of the
water at Great Falls for the past four years.
During the fiscal year OF 1856 there were
127 days when it was clear, sc when it was
slightly turbid, 81 when turbid and ISL when
very turbid.
In other years the records we're: 1886 '67,
clear l64 days, slightly turbid 20, turbid 81,
very turbid 12l; lsS7-8s, clear 194, slightly
turbid Is, turbid 26, very turbid 1871; 1888 S9,
clear 147, slightly turbid 80, turbid SO, very
turbid 1885, The average for the four years
was: Clear 15s slightly turbid 49, turbid A,
very turbid 1874
COMPARISON.
In comparison with this there is another
table to show the state OF the water during the
same periods at the entrance to the city mains
at the gate house OF tine distributing reservoir,
the average being as follows: Clear, 200;
slightly turbid. %; turbid, IS; very turbid. IS.
Col. Elliot goes on to say: 1T will be observed
m hat ba kar sf1,ph
and very turbid at the reservoir was only
about two-thirds Of the total time that it was
'turbid and very turbid' at Great Falls, and
this great improvement in the water supplied
to the city was due to the time. SIN all as it
was, given Tor depositing its earthly (ciayey)
matter in the distributing reservoir.
TnrERINa TOO EXPENSIVE
"Filtering the water consumed by Washing
ton and Georgetown would be enormously ex-
pensive Git has been estimated that the first
cost Of filtration works would be from 5000, 900
to $780, OO and the annual cost from $l8. 600
to Gas, 900, according to the plan adopted) and
/ do not believe il to be necessary. Turbidity
does not necessarily make waters unwholesome
The clearest waters are sometimes the most
dangerous, because they are SO deceptive. and
filtration can, at most, only make waters clear.
During the times Of its turbidity the Potomac
water has caused resort to the
CLEAR BUT DECEPTIVE WELL WATERS
Of the city for drinking purposes. and they
doubtless have caused disease which has been
attributed to the Potomac water. Some years
ago, when the Potomac water was allowed to
flow through the receiving reservoir and min
gle with Its waters, 1t had dIsagreeable fishy
and oily taste and smell and there was much
complaint, but the Potomac water itself,
brought either directly from Great Falls or
through the distributing reservoir has never,
even in its worst condition. been proved to be
unhealthfuL On the contrary, it has generally
been believed to be one Of the best in the
country.
AN ADDITIONAL SETTLING BASIN NEEDED
Filtration then being out of the question, q
comparison Of the tables clearly points out the
most important step to be taken for Improving
the condition of the Potomac water. 1t il to
provide an additional settling basin, so that
when the river is turbid the water can have
longer time for depOsiting its sedimentary
matter before passing into the mains. This can
be done by
IMPROVING THE RECEIVING RESERVOIR
"It is about two miles above the distributing
reservoir, has about the same area and con-
tains about the same available amount Of
water, its perimeter being about two miles in
length. 1t was contemplated in the original
design for the aqueduct that the water from
Great Falls should always pass through the re-
serve mainly as a settling basin, but its use as
such. and all other use, was suspended some
years ago."
POLLUTED WATER IN THE RECEIVING RESERVOIR
Col. Elliot explains that this was done owing
to the complaints that were made by the peo-
pie as to the condition of the water, which had
begun to be polluted by the dctritus carried
down into the receiving reservoir from the
thickly populated region to the north of the
basin, which forms water shed OF about T. 600
acres. Every rain brings down quantities Of
material from the hill sides. not only SOIL but
also some Of the fertilizers and other deeterious
substances used in cultivating the lands
Again, considerable portion Of the margin
of the reservoir is shoa, with soft, muddy
bottom, and the wind stirs up the mud, which
adds to the turbidity, besides which there is a
luxuriant growth at other portions OF the shoal
margin OF various water plants, which are sup
minute vegetable substances that have given
much trouble elsewhere well as here. To
this Is attributed the offensive oily and fishy
smell and taste of the waters from such reser-
voirs at some seasons, particularly in hot
weather.
ADMIRABLY SUITED FOR SETTLING PURPOSES.
1.-The receiving reservoir" continues Col
Elliot, sis admirably suited for settling pur-
poses il all the water be excluded from it ex-
cept the water from the Potomac and the mar
gins deepened and protected. These can read
lily be done if Congress will grant the necss-
sary appropriations" Col. Elliot recommends
the adoption Of the project OF Capt Symons,
| submitted in 1885, to conduct the waters of the
several small streams now flowing into the
Il. i