Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-12-14
three purposes:
First. the improvement Of the reservoir: sec

tureo purposes:
First the Improvement Of the reservoir: sec
ond. the raising of the dam at the Great Falls
to give us more water: third. filter works.
1T would be unbusinesslike to spend money
on the tunnel until these objects were accom-
Pushed. 1t would be unw;se, / think, to use
the tunnel as q passageway for carrying n
main. know the difficulty Of laying and caring
for main near the surface and these difficulties
would be greatly increased in the tunnel. Then
1t would be almost impossible to get at the main
or discover leak. The tunnel is filled with water
the outflow being into Rock creek. You would
not discover leak by the increase of this over
now. In order to get at the main at any time
the tunnel would have to be pumped out at q
cost of thousands of dollars.
Il want it understood" said Col. Elliot, at
the close of the interview, that we
must come to filtration. The capital city
ample in this this natter s No large 'I city in
the country now employs the system, bu. they
must come to it. There are smaller cities that
use it-Atlanta and other cities-and the re-
suits are most satisfactory. 1t is not an ex-
pertinent"
CAPT. sYMoNs' PLAN.
The plan Of filtration recommended by
Capt. Symons in the report referred to by Col.
Elliot was estimated to cost 100000.
COL ELLIor's FORMER RECOMMENDATION.
Col. Elliot in his report last year. to which
reference has been made, treated filtration as
unnecessary and undesirable on account of the
great expense, the annual cost in addi-
ton to the first plant being from
SlS.0O0 to $4,000. according to the
plan adopted. He tnen urged that the receiv-
ing reservoir be converted into settling basin.
the total cost for deepening and protecting the
margins and the other improvements required
being estimated at Sl60.S25.
WHAT CAPT. LUsK SAYS.
Il agree with you; the Potomac water is in a
very bad state" said Capt Lusk of the District
water department to STAR reporter today.
How can it be remeded?' he continued. echo
Ing the reporters inquiry. BY filtration,
OF course, but this could hardly be
done at present, as large outlay of money is
necessary for plant. If there was not so
much water wasted the supply would be bet
ter, as the winter would have q
chance to settle. One of the greatest
problems the water department has to
contend with is the unnecessary waste of Po-
tomac water. Now. if houses were provided with
water meters the waste would be stopped and
as result the water would be better. l have
always been in favor OF water meters.
Many people are of the impression that our
water supply is filtered. This is not SO. The
water only passes through a series Of screens to
Keep the fish and debris out of the
pipes. While would not like to
recommend at this time the filtration Of
the POTOMAC water, believe all cities
will have to come to it. AS to the cost of
inferred water l am not prepared to say. 1t
would be greater some months than others, ac-
cording to the condition OF the water. The
water is rapidly improving, however, and
should We have no more heavy rains will be
clear in another week.
TO INSPECT A FILTERINa SYSTEM.
The District Commissioners have written to
Gen. Casey suggesting that an officer of the en-
gineer corps be sent to Lowell, Mass, to in
spect the system in operation there of fltering
the water tor the cities. If Gen. Casey adopts
the suggestion Capt. Lusk will be sent to ex-
anime the method Of filtering with the view of
getting suggestions for the improvement OF the
water works of this city.