The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-07-27
4 GREAT Waste OF WATER
Each WashiBgtonian DispOses of
us Gallons Daily.
Meters or Another Conduit Suggest
ed as 10 Safeguard the suppIy-An
Appropriation of $4,000 for SUR
Vcys for second Aaueduct Rec
commended by Col. 4. VI. Miller.

An interesting report has just been
made by Lieut.. Col. 4. N. Miller. OF the
Corps OF Engineers, the officer in charge
of the Washington aqueduct concerning
the water supply OF the city. The report,
after rcciting the excellent condition Of the
plant, and going into details as 20 general
repairs and new work. charges reckless
waste OF water and concludes by suggest
ing several remedies therefor.
According to the figures given rs gallons
of water are used OF wasted by each in
dividual fl the District every day. The
report says that according to careful and
Trustworthy measurements and investiga-
lions made in various cities in the United
States, a per capita consumption of 100
gallons day is ample for domestic, bust
ness. and other purposes. Continuing, the
report says:
This extravagant use of water has be-
come a serious menace TO the supply OF
water by the Washington aqueduct with its
present capacity. The capacity OF the aque-
duct with head of l46 feet at the distrib-
uting reservoir, a head necessary to keep
up the present pressure for the gravity
supply, is SO, eco gallons per diem. II
the level of the distributing reservoir were
lowered TO IA feet the ultimate safe limit
of supply is 100000 gallons. This latter
involves a loss OF head of two feet, SO that
TO obtain the same pressure with the sup
ply additional pumping would be required.
The present daily consumption is &c.
00o, 600 gallons, and at the rate of increase
per decade for the last ten years, 1883 1889,
Y, 600, 600 gallons, il would reach the ulti
mate limit OF 100000 gallons in about
twelve years
THE present consumption and waste has
also an important bearing on the subject
of filtration. Congress has called for
q report on this subject, and the matter is
now undergoing investigation. II is prob
able that the cost OF filtration will be
about Sc per million gallons, or, at the
present rate of consumption, about $500 per
day, or $4,000 annually. This is a large
charge and can only be reduced by a reduc-
ton in consumption.
The existing conditions suggest two
remedies; either the reduction of consump-
tion TO reasonable rate, 100 gallons per
capita per diem, or the increase OF the
present supply TO keep up with the present
unreasonable and extrayagant demand OF
lis gallons per capita per diem.
THE first remedy, the reduction of con-
sumption can only be accomplished by the
introduction of metres. This is a positive
and certain method, and has been shown
ibIe. However, whenever this subject of
the introduction of meters have been
brought TO the attention OF Congress it
has failed to meet approval
Colonel Miller quotes at length from an
exhaustive report on this subject made By
Capt. Edward Burr Corps of Engineers,
then in charge OF the Water Department OF
the District OF Columbia contained in the
report OF the Commissioners of the District
of Columbia for the fiscal year ended June
80, 1887, in strong support of the PROPOSE
ton for the introduction OF the meter sys-
TEN in the District OF Columbia
The Introduction of meters" Colonel
Miller continues, will not prevent an
abundant supply for all purposes, will
result in a less water rate, or expense TO
consumers, and would throw the burden of
waste where it belongs. on the shoulders
of the careless and willfully negligent COLI
sumeTs.
The second remedy is an increase of the
water supply to meet future demands at
the present extravagant rate OF consump-
ton. This involves the building OF sec
ond conduit from the Great Falls of the
Potomac, with the necessary reservoirs, il
any. and proper gate houses and operating
plant In order that this subject may have
proper consideration, with due deliberatiol
and provision, a survey of practicable
routes is essential. These surveys should
be taken in hand at once and an estimate
Of S., 900 is submitted for such surveys
OF the $794, 451 appropriated for inereas-
ing the water supply, the sum of S136,291
has been expended during the past fiscal
year. II is estimated that 1901, 399 Will be
required 10 complete the Improvements, in
Guiding the Howard University reservoir.