Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-19

the aggregate waste from this cause is
comparatively small, and the evil lies prin-
cipally in defective plumbing and willful
waste. To what extent this waste is at
times carried may be judged from the fol-
lowing experience:
During a spell Of very cold weather, last
Ing from January % to February |. 1897.
the daily consumption. which had pre-
viously averaged about l2.2o,o1 gallons
per day. rose to an average of more than
52.Wn.VO gallons per day for seven con-
secutive days. During periods of very cold
weather the quantity of water actually
used for necessary domestic and public
purposes is less than usual, and the abnor-
NAL consumption at such times Is due to
the fact that the water pipes in many build
iEgs are so located as to he in danger Of
freezing up unless the water is kept run
ming. From experiments made in this office
Ii was shown that an increased consump-
ton of 1o.0oo,ooo gallons per day, was
the case during the period mentioned. would
correspond TO about 1,O0.0o ordinary size
spigots running twelve hours per day at
the rate usually employed to prevent freez-
ing.
ExtravaGnnt Use Must he Checked.
IF further proof of waste is required it
will be found by consulting the table of
daily and hourly measurement of consump-
ton and waste of water. taken on June 23-
"A and 29-30. 1897. wherein it will bc OBJ
served that i'm a residential community like
tnat IN question I'd per cent as nluCn wafer
was used between the hours of ! and >
am. when the consumption Is least. as be
tween Z and IL am. when II Is greatest
Moreover. of all the principal cities of the
United. States Washington is exceeded by
but two or three in its per capita consump
ton and waste of water.
Il would therefore repeat that this eN-
travagant use of water. unless checked,
will add greatly to the difficulties and eX
pense of ever providing suitable methods
of filtration, the cost of operation of
filter plants. after construction. varies
from about 81 to s. per 1.oD.Ho gallons of
water filtered Although the ulti-
mate daily capacity of the conduit is still
about 31,o00,oD gallons more than the pres
ent daily consumption, yet IL should be re-
membered that the consumption is about
60 per cent Of the maximum capacity of
the conduit, while ten ears ago il was only
- per cent of this quantity. Before the
consumption equals the maximum capacity
of the conduit another conduit should be
completed and he in readiness to supply
the city with an increased supply of water
To construct another conduit from Great
Falls to the receiving reservoir would take
several years, and in advance of the actual
work of construction accurate surveys
would have to be made, lands purchased
ana the route of the conduit located
1t would therefore. seem the part of wis
dom not to defer too long the preliminary
operations necessary to inaugurate the
work. The United States already owns
about four-fifths of the land which would
be needed for the purpose, and the rest
should be acquired while prices are rea-
sonable, and few improvements are located
on the lands to be purchased, and il Is
proposed in the next annual report to sub
nit detailed estimates for the preliminary
work"
Captain Gaillard renews his recommended
ton of last year that provision be made
for resuming the work of completing the
tunnel between the distributing reservoir
and the new reservoir near Howard Uni
rersity and for the other works connected
herewith. including the latter reservoir
An appropriation of si5oGp0 is asked for
TINS work, of which there is S2:0.en0 in the
treasury from the appropriation made by
the act of 1852. Including the amount
actually spent on the uncompleted Wash
ington aqueduct tunnel and the new reser-
Voir near Howard University. the total
amount expended for the construction,
operation and maintenance of the auue-
Duct and all accessory works up to June 30
1897, was Sc. 1870, 1l05l, of which amount the
District of Columbia paid 81 800 32o.25