Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-10-01

81, and pm, SO.
Maximum, SO. at 2 pm, October /; min
mum, 80, at q am, October 1.
mercial. To illustrate the benefits of the
meter system, 1t is necessary to refer to
but one city, Detroit, with about the same
population as the District of Columbia
Inc Following quotations are taken from a
statement made bv Mr.. l.. N. Case, super
lntendent of the Detroit water works, be-
fore committee of the legislature of the
state OF Michigan. having under considera-
tlon what Is known as the free water bill
for Detroit:
Comparative Statement.
For years, and up to 1889. Detroit, Buff
falo and Philadelphia operated upon the
assessment plan entirely Detroit pumped
daily per capita supply Of 204 gallons.
Our capacity was more than exhausted,
and complaints of short supplies were bit
ter and increasing. March &, 1889, 1. DEM
onstrated to the board that meters must be
USED to stop this enormous waste, or an
enlargement of the works entered into i'm
me mieoia 5 at an estfared expense of $780,
t0O The introduction of meters was de-
clded upon. The following conditions of
the three cities in 1887 and 1889 will show
the results of the introduction of meters in
LEROY ana the continuance of the old
method in Buffalo and Philadelphia:
Daily pumpase il million gallons
1887. Buffalo, IS; 1896, Buffalo 111 1ss7
Philadelphia, IS; 1896, philadelphia. o39:
1871, Detroit, SO: 1896, Detroit, Sc
increase in popula tion-Buffalo. "a ner
GENT; Philadelphia, 46 per cent; Detroit.
So per cent.
The result in Detroit is a stationary to-
Ia! consumption for ten years, with SO
per cent increase in population. and a nor
capita decrease from 2u3 to l3O gallons
IRIS was accomplished by metering about
o,VU consumers of total of 1900, and
WINE the erect Is marked the per capita
be reduced by increasing the number of
meters. -
=, In this city washington the increase in
the use OF meters has had similar but less
marked effect. The existing law rennires
the use of meters only by hotels. livery
stables, manufacturing establishments and
other large consumers Since 1894 all such
consumers have been required to use me-
tiers. The following taSle Shows the re.
suit:
44ss Number & oI premises !. sns RI asr.o
2oe N'm: ssi Of meter! 81 -u,v-. ~
Water supplied tgallons, "
49162,OOo 47.1S2.000 44114.O0O A, c87 900
10, Fer capita tgallons,;
Iei lI3 165 164
Reduction Expected.
with an increase since 1894 of 4, 355 in
the number of premises supplied with water
the total daily supply is reduced by about
4,Vo,OoO gallons and the per capita supply
from 1S1 to 164 gallons. This can be at
tributed to no other cause than the meter
ing of about 800 large consumers of the
character mentioned above
AS the law now stands, no farther ex-
tension OF the meter system can be made
since all premises. excepting dwellings and
sn all shops are metered. To further cur
tail waste meters must be gradually APP
Piled to all consumers. 1t is the current
telief that the excessive consumption here
arises from large use and waste of water
in the United States buildings and grounds.
While undoubtedly there is some waste in
the departmental buildings, there are good
grounds for believeing that it is very much
less than suspected.
1.-THE unavoidable conclusion is that there
is more waste in the residential section
and in dwellings than in business or COM
mercial premises, and that the United
States departments, though as stated
as much water as they desire-in fact, do
not waste as much or at the same rate
as the resident population"
Another Problem.
Another and more serious consideration
presents itself. While the quantity of wa
ter available in the Potomac river is far
beyond the immediate demands of the
city, the capacity of the aqueduct is limit
ed, and is probably not more than 7500O.-
coo gallons day. With a supply equal to
all demands, the use of water increased
from 27,70O,UO0 in 1880 to 49,10O.OO0 in
1884. an increase. of q. 100000 gallons in
five years. The Increase from 1889 to 1890
was nearly S.0OO.QOU, or thirty gallons per
capita. When the supply is again in
creased, as 1t must be Ishortly If the pres
ent system continues,,ia similar increase
In total and per capita demand is to be ex-
pected
Unless a short water supply is to be ac-
cepted as a chroBic condition in this city,
the waste of water must be curtailed, or
measures should be at once undertaken
for the duplication of the aqueduct from
Great Falls to the reservoirs, at an ex
pense of millions of dollars. Is there any
sound reason why millions should be spent
by the city and the United States to bring
an increased supply Of water into the city
for 10 other purpose, than to return it
sewers without benefit Of any kind?
Cost Of Filtration.
Excessive waste has a vital bearing
upon the probability of filtration. Potomac
water in the past has borne good reputa-
tion for purity. but of late years has been
suspected of pollution. With Increasing
population in the Potomac water shed and
Increasing liability to pollution. filtration
Is now necessary for the assurance of pure
water. The cost Of plant, including all
land and appliances. to supply 50.Oeo.0O0
SdhoAS VI MteTeu wafer QdIiy, Will not De
Tar from Sl,O00.O00. upon which interest at
3 per cent and sinking fund requirements
for extinguishment of the Indebtedness In
twenty years. viii be $S9000 year
The officer in charge of the Washing
ten aqueduct. in his report for 1896, states
the cost of operation of filtration plants
alone to be from about 81 to s. per million
gallons. that is. at the lower figure. $73, 600
per annum for 10000, 600 gallons daily, d
total for interest sinking fund and operat-
ing expenses Of say $l58.000 year. For a