The Washington times., 1903-07-22
Would Install Meters or En-
large the System to Cor.
rect Conditions = Give
Estimates of Cost.
The Annual Report Issued.
Enough Water in Aque-
duct TO Last Eleven Days.
Filtration Plant.

Col A NJ. Miller, the army engineer
officer in charge of the District water
supply, has filed his annual report in the
Office OF the chief of engineers.
Colonel Miller says that the Washing
ton Aqueduct Tunnel and the Washing
ton City Reservoir. near the Soldiers
Home. were placed IN operation on jan
uary s, 1902, and increased the head of
water throughout the entire gravity sys-
tenn by from IL 10 20 feet He SAYS that
the present total storage capacity OF
all the reservoirs is about e37. 900. 900
gallons. equal to approximately eleven
days supply of water under normal con-
ditions
Colonel MilIer's Report.
I In part Colonel Miller says In his re-
port:
Until the average daily consumption
Of water becomes considerably greater
than at present the reference OF the sur
face Of the water az the lowest stage OF
the Potomac will be about Isl feet at
! the mouth OF the feeder at Great Falls,
about 1875 feet at the DalecarIia res
/ ervoir. and f46 feet at the Georgetown
distributing reservoir
The total supply OF water which the
present conduit can safely furnish. with
out pressure dangerous to its safety,
is 10000 gallons per diem This,
however, neeessitates the lowering OF
the Georgetown Distributing reservoir
to reference IA, thus involving loss OF
head OF feet at that point OF distribu-
tion.
Great Falls Dam
THE rip-rap backing OF the dam at
Great Falls was repaired BY placing
1.015 cubic yards which had been car
ried away by food The grounds
around the mouth of the conduit at the
Maryland end of the-dam were graded
and a new fence erected
Measurements of the daily and hour
/ ly consumption and waste of watsr
were made each month except septem-
Der. 1902. and February 1903. and show
an average OF eleven measurements OF
consumption and waste for the fiscal
year OF 5s.2s7.e4s gallons for each
twenty-four hours. The last measure
ment. made June 25 and 26. showed a
total consumption and waste Of 5S, SIS, 300
gallons.
Consumption and Waste.
'F-om this It will be observed that the
consumption and waste of water in rhe
District of Columbia for June 25. 1903,
was 59.57s. 900 gallons per diem. rhis
is the largest June measurement ever
taken. and estimating the population Of
the District OF Columbia as ESQ. .4s3. gives
a daily per capita consumption and
waste of PIP gallons.
Careful and trustworthy investiga-
tions and measurements made In
various cities in the United States show
clearly that a per capita daily consump-
tion OF 100 gallons Is ample for all do
nestle, business. and public purposes.
and that any considerable Increase
above this amount must be attrihus5&
to waste. due TO defective mains and
service pipes. defective plumbing. and
wi1lful waste.
Extravaganza Menace.
This extravagant use Of water has
become serious menace TO the supply
OF water by the Washington aqueduct
with its present capacity. The capacity
OF the aqueduct with head OF las 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
distributing reservoir were lowered 10
/ 144 feet. the ultimate safe limit of sup
. ply is 10000. 600 gallons. This latter in
wolves loss OF head of two feet. so
that. to obtain the same pressure with
the supply. additional pumping would
I be required.
THE present consumption and waste
has also en Important bearing on the
| subject of filtration.
The Filtration Plant.
"A filtration plant has been authorized
/ by Congress. and is now being con-
srructed by this office. II is probabIs
that the cost OF filtration VIII be a5ous
| So per million eaIloEs. or 1T the present
rate of consumption. about $500 per day.
o. $4,000 annually. This is a large
charge, ana can only be reduced by a re-
duction in consumption.
; The existing conditions suggest tws