Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-27
Need of Greater Supply.

The probability of the need of a greater
supply in the future was given due con-
sideration by the engineer officers who
prepared the plans for the plant and they
felt safe in estimating that a daily flow
to consumers of 100000 gallons of wa
ter would be ample to provide against all
conditions under a proper supervision of
consumption and the allowance of a wide
margin for ordinary waste. All water
experts agree that there is a certain
waste that is legitimate. This includes
the losses in the mains and the waste by
consumers in running off water from the
taps which happens to be in the pipes
when hot or cold water is needed
The cOnSump tiOn of water in the Dis
trct allowing about 10 gallons for each
man woman and child of the population,
is now and always has been regarded as
excessive by those who have direct charge
of the supply The waste has been ex-
travagant it is declared, and is due to a
large extent to the lack of proper super
vision and the failure to prosecute when
waste is discovered
In his annual report recently published
Col. Smith s. Leach engineer officer in
charge of the aqueduct, states that the
measured supply to the purely residential
section of the District between the hours
of midnight and m during the month
of June this year, was as great as the
measured supply between the hours or
noon and o'clock pm. in the same
month
He also states in the report that during
the month of February, while cold weather
continued, the daily consumption was De
tween 81, 600 600 and 103,OO0,0o0 gallons 1t
is charged at the District building that the
waste that is alleged by the engineer ofti-
Ger in his report is the waste in the mains.
But 1t is stated on the other hand that the
waste in the mains is regular and continu-
GUS that it is as much, in proportion. dur
Ing the time of minimum consumption as
in the time of maximum consumption,
which two points in the pendulum of sup
ply are out of all proportion. An illustra-
ton OF this can be found in the fact that
the holes crevices in the mains through
which water runs when %, O00,OOD gallons
the average consumption for this month,
are being used are just as large and lose
just the same amount OF water from the
pipes, in proportion to the pressure, as
when the daily consumption is 81 ,00o,OU
gallons.
Normal Consumption.
Under normal conditions, without waste
of any kind, it is set forth by experts that
a per capita consumption OF 10 gallons of
water per day is ample for human. beings
under almost every condition of climate,
this estimate including water used in flush
Ing closets. in bathing, In drinking and for
| all purposes. 1t is charged that the enor-
nous waste of water in the District is due
| to extravaganza and to faulty plumbing
| that an expense of a few dollars could
remedy.
| 1t is stated positively that city Of the size
| of Washington could get along spendidly
| with daily supply of 45.000.Co0 gallons per
| day, and yet have sufficient water to waste
| few gallons per capita every day. And
| because steps were being taken to enforce
| the ordinances against wasting, because eff
| forts were being made to install water me-
| tiers in all residences in the District which
| would effectually point out the persons
| wasting water, ii is stated the engineer
| officers who had charge of the construction
| of the filtration plant decided that daily
| capacity of t5,oon,o00 gallons, would be
| more than ample, and would allow for
| great future growth of tie city.
| 1t is declared by those who have been
| connected with the water supply work of
| the District that the efforts to stop wasting
have bee nineffectual because they have
J been casual and not followed up with the