Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-07-31
A WASTEOE WATER
Over Fifty Million Gallons a Day
Used in'Mashington.
DAILY PER cHqA 1883 GALLONS
Restriction by77Meters or Greater
Supply Needed.
PROGRESS ON THE TUNNEL

PROGRESS ON THE TUNNEL
day submitted his annual report to Gen.
Wilson. chief of engineers, in regard to the
condition and needs of the water supply
system of the District of Columbia
In chapter about the Washington aque-
duct he shows that the present total stor-
age capacity Of all the reservoirs Is little
less than 80, 100000 gallons, or about six
days normal supply. The total supply OF
water which the present conduit can safe
ly furnish without a pressure dangerous to
It's safety Is 100000 gallons per diem.
This. however. necessitates the lowering OF
the distributing reservoir to reference IA,
thus involving a loss Of head two feet at
that point of distribution. Until the aver
age daily consumption Of water becomes
considerably greater than at present the
reference of the surface Of the water at the
lowest stage Of the Potomac will be about
l5l feet at the mouth Of the feeder at
Great Falls. about 1868 at the Dalecariia
reservoir and 146 feet at the distributing
reservoir.
Fifty Million Gallons a Day.
Tables are given in the report, showing
that the consumption and waste Of water
in the District Of Columbia for June q.
1900. was 5O.S97, 227 gallons per diem. Tic
is the largest June measurement ever
taken. The United States census Of 1900
gives the population of the District OF
Columbia as 27S71s. which gives a daily
per capita consumption and waste OF 1S3
gallons. Careful and trustworthy mvestiga-
ton and measurements made In the various
cities in the United States show clearly
that per capita daily consumption of 100
gallons is ample for all domestic, business
and YnpItl n,,I hot
able increase above that amount must be
attributed, says Colonel Miller. to waste,
due to the defective mains and service
pipes. defective plumbing and willful waste.
Menace to the Water supply.
This extravagant use of water" says
Col Miller. has become a serious menace
to the supply of water by the Washington
aqueduct with its present capacity. The
capacity of the aqueduct. with head Of
1856 feet at the distributing reservoir, a
head necessary to keep up the present pres
sure for the gravity supply, is $4,000. 600
gallons per diem. II the level Of the dis
tributing reservoir was lowered to 1855 feet,
the ultimate safe limit of supply Is 76,OOO.-
600 gallons. This latter involves loss Of
head of two feet. 50 that to obtain the same
pressure with the, supply. additional pump
ing would be REQUIRED. The present con-
sumption and waste has also an important
bearing on the subject of filtration. A re-
supply Of Washington was called for by
Congress and submitted by this office March
%, 1900. 1t is probable that the cost Of
filtration will be about Sc per million gal
Ions, or, at the present rate of consump-
ton. about $500 per day, or $4,000 an
nually.
Two Remedies, Suggested.
This is a large charge and can only be
reduced by reduction IN consumption. The
existing conditions suggest two remedies
either the reduction Of consumption to
reasonable rate, 100 gallons per capita per
diem. or the increase of tho present supply
to keep up with the present unreasonable
and extravaganza demand of 1873 gallons per
capita per diem. The first remedy, the re-
duction Of consumption, can only be &C
complished by the Introduction of meters
This Is a positive and certain method and
has been shown by actual experience to be
perfectly feasible. However. whenever the
subject Of the introduction of meters has
been brought to the attention Of Congress
it has failed toe meet approval The in
PRODUCTION of meters will not prevent an
abundant supply for all purposes, will re-
suit in a less water rate or expense to con-
sumers. and would throw the burden Of
waste where 1t belongs. on the shoulders
Of the careless and willfully negligent con-
sumner.
THE second remedy is an increase OF the
water supply to meet future demand at the
present extravagant rate Of consumption.
This involves the building Of second con-
duit from the Great Falls of the Potomac,
with the necessary reservoirs, If any. and
proper gatehouses and operating plant. In
order that this subject may have proper
consideration. with due deliberation and
provision, survey OF practicable routes Is
essential. These surveys should be taken
in hand at once. and an estimate Of 5000
for such surveys is submitted with this re-
port
During the 1865 days Of the fiscal year
ended June 80 last the water served to the
people of the District of Columbia was very
turbid sixty-one days. turbid twenty-five
days. slightly turbid twenty days and clear
259 days.
Repairing the Aqueduct Tunnel.
A detailed description is given of the
work of repairing the Washington aoue-
duct tunnel under the general project for
increasing the water supply of the District.
At the beginning of the fiscal year work
was well under way throughout the whole
length Of the tunnel. all preliminary work
having been completed during the year
ending June 80 1899, and the underground
work well started. Col. Miller describes in
detail the work accomplished during the
past year, and says that the tunnel is now
finished from the west shaft to Foundry
branch shaft, and from Rock creek to
Champlain avenue, with the exception of
one coat of cement wash in Chamnlain
with the exception of cement wash. Foun-
dry branch east is lined, arched and grout-
ed to station II. Rock creek west ia lined
backed and grouted from the shaft to sta
ton 25 to 70. and from station 81 to 90 to
station 33 to 63. New lining is now being
placed in Foundry Branch east and Rock
Creek west, and when completed the tun-
mel will be finished. with the exception Of
work at the shafts. Colonel Miller adds
the important statement that 1t is probable
that work underground will be Completed
by January l. 1901.
The board Of experts. In their estimate
for the completion and repair Of the tun-
nel gave the amount required for compile
ton of the tunnez proper and its acces-
series as 1891. s37.i This estimate did not
include the amount necessary to complete
the Howard University reservoir, to place
1t in a condition to be available in connec-
ton with the tunnel for the new system of
water supply. ss..ss
i is estimated that s139e7s.14 will be re-
quired to complete this Reservoir, and also
that it will require D further expenditure Of
s4:9, 56786 to complete the tunnel and ac-
necessary on july !, 1900, to Complete the
tunnel and reservoir; There was available
at TINS date S44s UAHS. ID, leaving a balance
necessary to complete the work Including
-, n1n