Evening star., 1903-07-22
LOCAL WATER SUPPLY
Annual Report by Col. Miller,
Enginseef in Charge.
STORAGE s}CAPACITY
RESERVOIRS CONTAIN TOTAL OF
es7, 900, 600 GALLONS.
Consumption and Waste in June
Shown to Be SO, 9,579, 900 Gal
Ions Per Diem.

ions Fer Diem.
Colonel Mackenzie, acting chief Of engi-
neers. has received the annual report of
Col a. M. Miller the engineer officer in
charge of the District water supply sys-
tenn. giving full and detailed account of
operations during the past fiscal year. The
Washington aqueduct tunnel and the Wash
ington city reservoir near the Soldiers
Home were placed in service January 8,
1902, and increased the head Of water
throughout the entire gravity system by
from twelve to twenty feet The total
present storage capacity of all the reser-
voirs of the system is about 637 100000 gal
Ions, or about eleven days normal supply.
Until the average daily consumption OF
water becomes considerably greater than
at present, says Colonel Miller. the ref
erence Of the surface of the water at the
lowest stage of the Potomac will be about
151 feet at the mouth of the feeder at
Great Falls, about 1865 feet at the Dale
caria reservoir, and LAG feet at the George
town distributing reservoir. The total sup
ply of water which the present conduit can
safely furnish. without a pressure dam
gerous to Its safety. IS 76,OOO.0OO gallons
per diem. This, however. necessitates the
lowering Of the Georgetown distributing
reservoir to reference IA, thus involving
loss of head of two feet at that point of
distribution. The rip-rap backing of the
dam at Great Falls was repaired by plac-
ing 1,O15 cubic yards which had been car
ried away by flood. The grounds around
the mouth of the conduit at the Maryland
end of the dam We're graded, and a new
fence erected
Measurements of the daily and hourly
consumption and waste Of water were made
each month except September 1902, and
February. 1903, and show an average of
nl oar,tS Of 1 m
waste for the fiscal year of 5S,237 GAG gal
Ions for each twentyfour hours. The last
measurement made, June % -26, showed
total consumption and waste of 59,519,9OO
gallons
Largest June Measurement.
From the above it will be observed that
the consumption and waste of water in
the District of Columbia for June %, 1903,
was 59,5I9,9OO gallons per diem. This Is
the largest June measurement ever taken.
and. estimating the population Of the Dis
trict of Columbia at 2SO.463 gives daily
per capita consumption and waste of 212
gallons.
Careful and trustworthy Investigations
and measurements made in various cities
in the United States show clearly that
per capita daily consumption of 100 gal
Ions is ample for all domestic, business and
public purposes and that any considerable
Increase above this amount must be at
trbuted to waste, due to defective mains
and service pipes defective plumbing and
Willful waste.
This extravagant use of water has be-
come a serious menace to the supply of
water by the Washington aqueduct with
it's present capacity. The capacity of the
aqueduct. with head of 146 feet at the
distributing reservoir, head necessary to
keep up the present pressure for the gray
ity supply, is 5060O.OOO gallons per diem.
If the level Of, the distributing reservoir
1nypa n y Paaf thn 111tfy fa 70
limit of supply Is 7G.V0,UO gallons. This
latter involves loss of head of two feet.
so that to obtain the same pressure with
the supply additional pumping would be
required
1.-The present consumption and waste has
also an important bearing on the subject
of filtration
The Filtration Plant.
"a filtration plant has been authorized
by Congress and is now being constructed
by this office. 1t Is probable that the cost
of filtration will be about Sc per million
gallons, or. at the present rate of con-
sumption, about $500 per day, or $4,000
annually This is large charge and can
only be reduced by reduction in con-
sumption.
1.-The existing conditions suggest two
remedies, either the reduction of consump-
ton to reasonable rate 100 gallons per
capita per diem. or the increase Of the
present supply to keep up with the pres
ent unreasonable and extravagant demand
Of 2O5 gallons per capita per diem.
THE first remedy. the reduction Of con-
sumption. can only be accomplished by the
introduction Of meters This is a positive
and certain method. and has been shown
by actual experience to be perfectly feasi-
bic. However. whenever this subject of
the Introduction Of meters has been brought
to the attention OF Congress it has failed
to meet approval
THE Introduction Of the meters will not
prevent an abundant supply for all DUR
poses, will result in less water rate or
expense to consumers and would throw
the burden of waste where 1t belongs on
the shoulders Of the careless and Wiilfully
negligent consumers.
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 a sec
ond conduit from the Great Falls Of the
Potomac, with the necessary reservoir If
any, and proper gate houses and operating
plant. In order that this subject may have
proper consideration, with due delberation
and provision, survey of practicable
routes is essential. These surveys should
be taken in hand at once and an estimate
for such surveys Is submitted with this re-
port" (The estimate for the survey is
$4,000.
Referring to the Aqueduct bridge over
Rock creek at Pennsylvania avenue, Col
hjIleT says. w 1lllo IL IS DeUeved that the
interest and convenience of the citizens of
Washington and Georgetown demand the
widening Of this bridge. yet because the
present structure amply suffices for all re-
quirements of the Washington Aqueduct
system. and because during the past few
years no official complaints regarding the
width Of the bridge have been made to this
office. no estimate Is submitted for this
work, the estimate for the next fiscal year
being confined 10 those subjects directly
affecting the operation Of the Washing
ton aqueduct."
Condition Of the Water.
According to the scale for recording the
condition of the water regards clearness,
the water during the past fiscal year was
very turbid 33 days. turbid 80 days, slightly
turbid Al days and sclear 253 days. This
sta tement applies to the condition of the
water at the Washington city reservoir
eff1uent.
That portion of Col. Millers report re-
lating to the operations had for the estab-
Lshment Of a filtration plant for the Dis
trict during the past fiscal year has been
already detailed in The Star in its alb
straets Of the regular monthly reports of
progress of the work.
..rTba Of Congress apprhvo5 Morot,