Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-21
THE WATER DEPARTMENT.
Improvements in the Service During the
Past Year.
How Georgetown Heights Now Gets
Water-An Appropriation Asked
for Hydrants-The Report.

Superintendent Of the Water Department
Hayden today furnished the Commissioners
with his report. and the estimates of the
amount that will be required to run his de-
partment for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1894. The report says:
very little can be added to what has
Deen said In former reports in regard to
the waste of water. The public should be
urged not only to take every precaution to
prevent 1t upon their own premises, but to
Cooperate with the department by report
t.is any cases OF waste that may come I'M
DER their notice
Complaints Of insufficient supply Of water
aIon various causes In all sections re-
ceived immediate attention. and. in all
cases when possible, relief was given. The
TashuI pumping engines and boilers at the
street station have been thoroughly over
ftae ana the necessary repairs made.
AFTER the completion of the 12-inch delivery
mann on r street, from 22d to 18th streets
northwest. connecting the Washington high
service system with that Of GEORGETOWN,
The ht III station was abandoned and
. smr Mssn service area west Of Rock creek
SupPueu py one of the Gaskill engines at
the U street station.
Better Service in Georretown.
me water level In the storage reservoir
at I'D and U streets can now be maintained
al an elevation of go feet above civ datum
pna w sns gives a much more uniform
l.,
ishe. elevations than was furnished by the
ton. ee'o"" S'o
BY supplying the high service area of
w ashihg ton and Georgetown from one sta
tioh considerable saving in fuel salaries
ana repairs will be effected during the
present fiscal year.
Inc Blake pumping engine at the George
.owh statlon can be put in good repair, and
new water end provided at a cost NOT ex-
ceeoing 1900. and utilized in the near fu-
lure Tor supplying certain portions of the
ntshe. areas north Of Georgetown, II It
snouio De found necessary to lay a new
pipe line for that purpose.
since the extension Of the and Pinch
Distribution o. mains in the high service area
EIorida avenue the daily pumpage from the
street station into the standpipe has
increased from 376,130 gallons in 1891 TO
1895" ~u VI e"e nseai year
Inc present practice Of laying all dis
trioution mains and service pipes to a uni
M fotm depth OF four feet below the estab-
rally lessen the liability of their being
anscted by the action of frost
There are .3S fire hydrants in service 12s
ne new nre MIGRANTS have been erected and
~ repairs were made to hydrants during
tne year. The use Of fire hydrants for
purposes other than the extfnguishment of
nre should be discontinued SO far as prac-
ttcable. They are frequently being disabled
by careless persons and to keep them in a
serviceabie condition requires Constant % re
ana attention on the part Of the water de-
Public Hydrants.
There are 3Os public hydrants In service.
z new improved hydrants have been erect
ed, abandoned and 743 repairs were made
to hydrants during the year.
mere are 80 drinking fountains for ami
mals; new fountains have been erected
IN place OF old ones, Of which were fur
fhn
ana erected by the water department: lOa
repairs have been made to fountains.
mere are zoo public pumps and wells in
she District; u new pumps have been erect
ea' 10 removed and the wells filed and
abandoned; 436 repairs have been made IN
pumps during the year.
Publlc MIGRANTS are necessary and fndis-
pensable to poor people. who are dependent
use.
Drinking fountains for animals have near
ly all been provided by the Humane So
ciety and erected by the water department
Mr.. Hayden does not think. however that
the expense Of providing public hydrants
and erecting drinking fountains for animals
should be borne by the water department.
as no revenue is derived from them
he recommends an annual approximation
OF *s,5oo for the purchase. replacement and
repair OF public hydrants, public pumps.
cleaning and protecting public wells, fllins
abandoned or condemned public wells and
the erection and repair to drinking foun.
| tains for animals
Extension of the High Service,
The last Congress provided that any sur.
plus funds Of the water department as NAV
be available during the fiscal years lS9s-'sa
might be applied to the extension of the
nigh service into the suburban areas. A
study Of the proposed extension was COM
menced by Capt. Lusk and upon his rec
ommendation a site for a new high service
pumping station near the southwest corner
OF the distributing reservoir was purcha sed
containing H.120 square feet of ground. at q
cost of Sc 300. 20.
Estimates for the compensation of the
present and additional employees for the dis.
tr1bution branch for the fiscal year ending
June 80. 1885. are submitted, amounting In
all to $37.96S.