The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-17

fore. corresponds to a per capita of 49,
gallons-a very large consumption Tor a
city like Washington, where comparative
| ly few manufacturing enterprises exist
Every effort has been made during the
year. by means OF careful house inspec-
tions, to decrease this large use of water.
| but as the inspectors cannot make more
than two complete visits over the District
during the year, it is evident that in spite
| of every effort on their part, willful waste
of water can be but little checked by this
method. although it undoubtedly serves
as an intermittent check upon defective
| fixtures.
THE only practicable method of reduc-
ing the consumption OF water is by the
Introduction Of meters. This method has
been shown by actual experience in other
cities TO accomplish the desired results,
but when it has heretofore been brought
to the attention of Congress and of the
public of this city, 1t has not met with
approval. 1t is not improbable that fur
Their attention may yet be given TO this
subject as. under the act approved June
6, 1900. an appropriation was made for es-
tablishing certain portions OF a filtration
plant. thereby apparently giving the sane
ton of Congress to the future filtration
Of the water supply of the District of CO.
lumbia
1t has been estimated that the oper-
ating expenses Of a filtration plant will
amount TO about Sc per million gallons of
water filtered. Presumably. as heretofore,
the District of Columbia will have to pay
half OF this sum. which, at the pres
ent rate OF consumption, will entail an
additional expense of about $3.50 per day.
With the contemplated increase in the
pumping service and the expense neces-
STATED by filtration it is quite improb-
able that the revenues of the Water De
partment will be sufficient to meet he
additional charges unless rates are in
creased, a proposition, which, it is be-
lieved. will not be popular The other
alternative is to reduce the consumption,
and this. it is believed, can be accom-
plished only by the use of meters.
THE present law requires that meters
shall be installed in all observation-disclosures
in the District of Columbia, and interest
ing data have been obtained from the
readings of these meters. Forty-four
apartment houses. located in various parts
of the city. and containing LABS occu-
pants. showed an average daily per capita
consumption of S1.3 gallons. the maximum
for any one apartment-house being 309.1
gallons and the minimum being 1851 gal
Ions Half of these apartment houses had
of more than IS gallons and half OF less
than IS gallons. Only eight of the forty
four showed an average daily per capita
consumption exceeding 100 gallons.
'In contrast with the metered service Just
described. II is interesting to compare OBJ
seryatious made in two different sections
of the city in 1885 where in each case the
amount of water used by certain definite
number of adjoining houses was metered
at the service main supplying them, with
cut the knowledge of the occupants of the
premises. Forty-nine brick houses in
Chester court. containing 227 colored
tenants gave an average daily per capita
consumption of 1G6 gallons, and forty
seven houses in the northwest section,
2l6 occupants, gave an average
daily per capita consumption of 213 gal
Ions.
"On September Is. 1897. the consump
ton of water in a residence section of
Georgetown. ID. c., containing a popula-
tion of 1866 persons. was measured from
1918 a. m. to las a. m, and amounted
to 1853 gallons. corresponding to rate
of 100 gallons per capita per day, at an
hour of the night when the legitimate
consumption should have been almost
nothing.
For the first time in The history Of the
department careful observations. investi-
cations. and measurements have been
made. for the purpose Of determining the
amount of water used In the District OF
for municipal purposes. It is
believed that the desired information has