Evening star., 1901-07-18
THE NEW RESERVOIR
Water Will Probably Be in by Next
October.
GREAT DISTRIBUTING CAPACITY
More Money Needed for the
Filtration Plant.
for the
WILL PREVENT DIS EASE

1t Is anticipated that by October 1 next
the city of Washington will be receiving its
water supply from it's new reservoir, now
in course of construction near 1st street
northwest, just southwest of the Soldiers
Home grounds.
The work upon the reservoir and It's sub
sidiary basins is being pushed with all
possible expedition. The reservoir basin
proper is rapidly nearing completion, while
the work of constructing the clearwater
basin adjacent thereto, is also being rush.
ed. Almost a hundred men and a multi
tude of teams are busily engaged in build
ing the gates and other structures incident
to the main water receptacle, while many
laborers are also at work in perfecting the
clearwater basin.
By early fall it is expected that the water
supply will be placed in this reservoir, from
which it will be distributed via the new
route in contemplation.
The Filtration Bed.
During the coming session of Congress
every effort will be made to secure an ap-
preparation for the completion of the big
filtration bed which is planned for con-
StruCtion contiguous to the reservoir and
clear water basin. Roughly estimated the
sum of sGI5,OOO has already been expended
upon this project, but it is figured that a
sum in the neighbOrhoOd of 81 ,325, 600 more
will be necessary before the work can be
finished, bringing the total cost of the
plant up to 81 600 900
1t is hoped that at the next session a
liberal may be appropriated that
the work can progress during the forth
coming year without hindrance or Interrupt
ton. 1t is estimated that it will require
two years time to complete this plant, so
that the engineers in charge are extremely
anxious that there be no delay in the mat
ter.
The new reservoir when completed and
ready for occupancy will have a receiving
and distributing capacity calculated to be
in excess of the amount required by the
city at any and all times 1t will be cap
able of handling in the neighborhood of
I5.GO,UD gallons of water a day, and in
view of the fact that the normal demand
for water from the District Is only about
5O,0Oo.n0 more or less. each day, the total
amount ready to be furnished is regarded
as of entirely sufficient quantity
The Big Reservoir Basin.
The big reservoir basin proper is located
east of 1st street and the clearwater basin,
the latter lying between the street and the
main basin. Nearly all the masonry Incl
dent to the construction of the larger basin
has been completed, and a stone facing
about eighteen inches thick has been con-
structed around its sides, slOping from
bottom to top, a distance of about twenty
five feet. Practically all that remains to
be done before the water is let into this
basin is the removal of vegetable growth
between the crevices of the side masonry
and upon the earth at the bottom. Ad-
joining the basin upon the east is the clear
water arrangement which is not so nearly
completed. but which will be finished, it
is expected, within few months. This
receptacle is about of equal depth. 1t will
be used as a supply basin, being connected
with the reservoir proper by four forty
eight-inch pipes. When the filtration bed
shall have been completed the water sup
ply of the city will be let into that plant
by the immense pipes of the Lydecker tun-
mel from the distributing reservoir in West
Washington, a distance of several miles.
After being filtered the water will be
passed into the clearwater basin, and then
pumped through the big mains to the city.
The amount of water to be contained in
the clearwater basin from day to day will
be almost up to the limit of the total ca
pacity, so that in case of emergency there
shall be a sufficient supply at ready call.
A new pumping station of immense power
"a full description of which was printed
in The Star some time agO-will be sta
toned upon the southern bank of the reser-
yoir basin and in conjunction with the IN
creased natural pressure on the water fur
nished by the new location enough force
will be developed in distributing the water
10 erect a Wucn stronger HOW at every
spigot in the city. In addition to this all
the water will be allowed about five days
for sedimentation before being pushed
through the distributing pipes so that
after the completion of the entire system,
including the filtration plant, the water
supply will be both forceful and pure.
The Slow Sand System.
When the proposed filtration plant is
established 1t will be conducted along
the lines of the English or sow-sand
system of publication. 1t is to be
hoped that Congress will open it's purse
in order that this work may be continued
without delay, and there is every reason
to believe that it will do so. The small
sum of SO eco is about all that Is now
available for expenditure and more money
will be needed in the immediate future if
the work Is expected to progress rapidly.
According to present plans the new filtra-
tion plant will be capable of purifying CO.
0Oo,OtO gallons of water a day. The method
ccntemplates the percolation of the water
through a bed of sand four or five feet
thick. By this means all bacilli and other
Impurities will be removed, and the water
when distributed will be as near to purity
as it is possible to attain.
Area of Territory.
An area of forty-five acres of territory
has been placed at the disposal of the en-
gineers now constructing the plant Thirty
three acres of this ground is intended for
occupancy as the plans now stand, al
though plenty of latitude will be allowed
in case an extension Is deemed advisable.
When this filtration plant is completed it
is expected that the city of Washington
of one of the finest Of such institutions in
the world.