The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-01
A FILTERING PLANT URGED.
Necessity OF Pure Water for the Dis
trict Pointed Out


A report from the Secretary Of War was
1 presented to the Senate yesterday on The
feasibility and propriety Of 'hlteriug the
water supply Of Washington and OF con-
structing at once necessary fltering
plant. The report recommends that the
work be taken up at once as necessary fer
the public health and urges immediate
legislation on the part Of the present Cen
gress. The report comes from Brig. Gen.
John NJ. Wilson. Chief of Engineers. and
relates the results Of an extensive investi-
cation into the matter and a detailed es-
! innate Of the cost Of the work required
7 as requested by the act approved June 80.
/ 1898, which appropriated $4,000 to carry
/ on the investigation. The actual investi-
J CATION was made by Lieutenant Colonel
I Miller, in charge Of the Washington Aque-
] duct
The report gives a history Of the efforts
made to secure a good water SUPPLY for
/ the city since the Capital was laid out
by Major LEnfant The report, in part.
follows:
The daily consumption OF water BY the
District Of Columbia. as furnished by the
I aqueduct has increased from H.
5a4.s4s gallons. in 1874. to go
I TEN is described as taking the water
supply from the Potomac River at Great
/ Falls about fourteen miles above the city
1 At this point a masonry dam extends
! across the river from the Maryland to the
1 Virginia shore. Its total length is 2.S77
/ feet, and the width OF its crest in the Viz
ginia channel and across COINS Island is
/ feet inches, and in the Maryland chan
mel I feet inches. In 1886 the crest
fff he
/ Of Jas feet above mean tide at the Wash
ington Navy Yard to 1905 feet above the
same datum plane
There are four reservoirs, including the
/ Fort Reno Reservoir which was built and
is controlled by the Commissioners Of the
District Of Columbia. The capacity Of the
latter is about 100000 gallons. The to-
tai storage Of all reservoirs is about 3O5-
000.o00 gallons.
There is now under construction. for
increasing the water supply OF Washing
ton. a tunnel from the present distribut-
. ing reservoir to new reservoir situated
near the Howard University. The Lew
reservoir has a capacity Of 300. 600 000 gal
Ions. thus raising the capacity of storage
10 Cos, GOO 900 gallons. The new reservoir.
being situated about four miles east OF
the present distributing reservoir viii oc-
cupy more central distribution point. and
now obtaining at Capitol Hill and east
thereof The level Of water in this roser-
voir will be ia. and it is estimated will
add about fifteen feet additional height 10
the water delivered at Capitol Hill
From the figures given ii will be seen
that the Potomac River affords an album
dant supply for the District OF Columbia
The present cOnsumpton-500 600 900 gal
Ions per denis only about Z per cent OF
the minimum discharge Of 700 000, 600. The
present population OF the District of Co
lumhia is estimated as ESQ GOO and will.
according TO estimate, probably reach $780,,
900 in 1880 At the present rate Of con
sumption this population would require a
per diem supply Of about 10000, 600 gal
Ions about u per cent Of the minimum
discharge.
THE results OF analysis show that the
Potomac water is dangerous to health by
reason Of the quantity Of bacteria present
The number of bacteria present in one Gu
bic centimetre Of raw water has varied
from IS TO 81 GOO. The meteorological ex-
animation Of the influence water was prin-
cipally conducted for the purpose OF ascer-
tanning the Quantitatiye results or num-
Der Of bacteria, without regard TO classif-
alton. present in the raw water Qualita-
tive examinations we're made only to as
certain the presence OF bacillus coli com
NUNS. This is the bacillus of excreta. and
its presence indicates sewage contamina-
tor. or contamination OF like character
from surface drainage. or the specimens
examined, 50 per cent, or one-half, indi-