The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-07-28
DEPARTMENTS
RESPONSIBLE
An Experts Opinion on
Waste OF Water.
REMEDIES ARE SUGGESTED
Close Analysis of Complaints Referred
to in Annual Report of Colonel
Leach.
REMEDIES ARE SUGGESTED

George w King, who for years has
made a close study of the water supply
of the city, is Of the opinion that the
Government departments and not the
citizens are responsible for the waste
complained of in Colonel Leach's annual
report TO the Chief Of Engineers. When
seen this morning Mr.. King said:
1t was stated by former engineer,
the late Colonel Miller, that the capacity
OF the supply conduits was about 75,000,
coo gallons of water per diem, The use
OF the water, as stated by him, by citi-
zens ran as high as go 100000 gallons in
twenty-four hours, thus leaving a mar
gin of about 600 gallons, which
surplus has often been wiped out
through excessive use by the Govern
ment in the watering of parks, etc. In
der existing conditions there are mains
which run from the distributing reser-
Voirs into Washington. These pipes. up
10 the time of the completion and use
OF the Lydecker or Washington tunnel
We're the only methods of supplying the
city. Since this tunnel was built the
consumption has increased, and ac-
cording to the late reports by the en-
\ gineer in charge of this aqueduct it is
taxed to its fullest capacity.
1t is contemplated that, upon the
completion of the new filtering reser-
Yoir, the pipes connecting the distrib-
buting reservoir with the filtration
plant are 10 be shut off al the distribut-
ing tanks as supply pipes, and used
entirely for the distributing purposes,
the water coming from the new plant
instead of as formerly from the old
one west of town.
The Lydecker Tunnel.
Thus the supply in the future will
have 10 depend entirely upon the Ly-
decker tunnel, This tunnel is = stone
and brick formation running in a direct
line from the present distributing reser-
voir into the filtration plant, and pass
ing under deep ravines, Foundry
dry branch and Rock Greek valley. at
such a depression as to be number OF
feet below the surface of the Potomac.
which causes the internal pressure in
this conduit 10 be SO great at these
low points that it will be liable at any
moment to burst out and almost entire
j. destroy this main. Should this oc-
cur the filtration plant would be thrown
entirely out of use and the present
iron pipes will have again TO be used
as conveying pipes as there with be no
other means of getting water into
Washington, and the water carried in
IL LnlS manner would, or course, not De
filtered This makes it evident that the
location OF the present filtration plant
is out OF all reason, not only as re-
CARDS position but as regards price of
land The present tract costing some
thing oXer S500. 000 more than the same
amount of land al better location in
the vest OF town.
Attachment of Meters.
IN connection with the saving of water
in the District an act OF Congress re-
CURED the Commissioners to-as far as
they We're abIe-find out the amount of
water used in the Government depart
ments. This they did by attaching their
meters to pipes OF some of the buildings
and guessing at others. They attached
F. their meters 10 such supply pipes in the
departments as We're shown to them
leaving out OF their calculations certain
pipes which are known to exist and
which are in constant use, but which
are impossible TO reach. From this it is
easy TO see that the estimate rendered IN
the report OF the matter was far under
rated
I'm this examination it was learned
that the navy yard used 3.g00, coo gallons
Of water day IN condensefS, boilers and
other machinery at the yard. This, OF
late, has greatly increased. There is
an abundance OF surplus power in the
aaVy yard. which. if attached TO a force
<punp, could pump frorn the Eastern
Branch this amount Of water and the
5lS}tT Hgt SdiiDIlS SStS@u LOT use DN the
citizens. To inter- this water costs at
least S6 per million gallons, q low esti-
mate. By use OF the aforementioned
force pump, not only would the millions
ef gallons of water be saved. but also
the tax assessed The citizens for altering
the same,
IN many OF the departments there
are automatic flush tanks and other
water users, which if properly manipu-
4 lated could save thousands of gallons
2 dag.
II al the last session of Congress q bill
III vas Introduced TO give q company the
81 surplus water AT Great Falls, which
J. company intended, By means u turbines
connected with dynanGs. TO use the pow
p for Illuminating and other purposes.
This power. properly utilized by the
District government, could moi only be
used FOR electric lighting purposes as
Turposed by the aforementioned COM
pany. but also as = substitute for some
Of their steam pumps now used and
those contemplated being used in the
water department.
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