Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-07-22
WASTE MUST CEASE
AQUEDUCT OFFICERS SUBMIT
STARTLING FIGURES.
Say Limit of Aqueduct Will Be Reach
ed in Ten Years Unless Ex-
travagance Stops.

Gen. Mackenzie. chief of engineers, has
received the annual report Of operations
for the maintenance of the Washington
aqueduct and for increasing the water sup
ply of the District of Columbia. Measure
ments of the daily and hourly consumption
and waste of water were made during the
past twelve months and gave an average
of 63,67S,964 gallons. The consumption and
waste measured June %. 1904. were found
to be 6.193.90O gallons per diem. This %
the largest June measurement ever taken,
and estimating the population Of the Dis
trict as PSI. O4S. gives a daily per capita
consumption and waste Of 235 gallons.
Careful and trustworthy Investigations
n ade in various cities in the United States,
the report says. show clearly that daily
per capita consumption of 100 gallons Is
ample for all domestic, business and public
purposes. and that any considerable In
crease above that amount must be attrib-
u;ed to waste.
The officer in charge says that 'this ex-
uGvagant use of water has become seri-
Gus menace to the supply of water by the
Washington aqueduct with Its present
capacity-TG,O00,0 gallons-and at the rate
of increase the ultimate limit would be
reached in about ten years" He says that
the present consumption and waste have
also ar important bearing on the subject
OF filtration. A filtration plant has been
authorized by Congress and is now being
constructed. The officer says it is probable
that the cost of filtration will be about 81
per million gallons. or at the present rate
of consumption about $500 per day, or $11O.-
Oop annually. He says this is large
charge and can be reduced only by a re-
duction in the consumption.
Remedies Suggested.
In the opinion of the local engineer officer
In, ol,o -. H.,
ditions suggest two remedies-either the
reduction of the consumption to reason
able rate 900 gallons per capita per diem)
!, by the use of meters, or the increase Of the
present supply to keep up with the present
demand by the building Of a second conduit
from the Great Falls of the Potomac. The
necessary surveys of practicable routes for
this conduit, he says, should be taken in
nand at once. and he submits an estimate
of 5000 for that work.
Regarding the filtr9tion plant near the
Soldiers Home, for the construction Of
which Congress has appropriated S., 46S 4O5,
the report says that the progress made in
excavation during the fall and winter was
satisfactory, but that no concrete work was
done until the beginning of spring The
concrete mixing plant first Installed by
the contractors, the report says, was not
sufficiently well made to stand the work.
and was worn out in less than two months.
The mixers now in use are reported to give
excellent satisfaction. Figures are given
showing the details of construction, and
the report says that they show that the
progress of the work has been slow, but
that the quality of the work has, as rule
been good.
For Next Year.
The total estimates for the operation,
maintenance and repair of the aqueduct are
$4,000. of which $1,000 IS for a store house
and stable at Great Falls, and $1,000 for
preliminary surveys for an additional con-
duit. The estimated amount required for
the completion of the filtration plant under
the existing project is $685. 12. This
amount is in addition to balance Of
81. $50 21O.93 available July 1 last and
81 T23 .93 covered by uncompleted con-
tracts. The amount expended on the work
J,,Y{ or