Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-21
REPAIRS NEARLY DONE
TROUBLE OVER THE DALECARLIA
RESERVOIR.
Inability to Discontinue Use Of Bye
Cnduit for Local Water
Supply.

An official investigation Of conditions ex-
listing at the Dalecarlta, or receiving reser-
voir, has convinced the army engineers in
charge OF the Washington aqueduct that the
bye-conduit around the reservoir cannot be
closed at this time without seriously re-
ducing the local water supply. General
Mackenzie, chief of engineers, with a view
to reducing to the lowest possible minimum
the possibilities of contamination Of the
water from lack OF sedimentation. has
given orders that the Dalecarlia settling
basin be used to it's full capacity. and that
only sufficient water be diverted to the bye
conduit to meet the absolutely necessary
demands Of the people.
1t is expected that General Bates, the
acting secretary of war, will today make
reply to the communication of the District
Commissioners relative to conditions at the
Dalecarlia reservoir. He has received a re-
port on the subject from Lieutenant Colonel
Hoxie, the engineer officer in charge of the
Washington aqueduct, together with an In
dorsement on the same by General Mac
kenzie, chief of engineers. The substance
of these reports will be communicated to
the District Commissioners for their infor-
nation.
These reports were not made public to-
day, but 1t is known that they show that
the formation of a bar at the upper en-
trance of the reservoir seriously threat
ened the water supply of the city, and that
WOIh has DeeH III progress since last ldll
for the removal of that obstacle to the free
passage of water into the city mains. 1t
is stated that although the reduced how
OF water necesstated the temporary use
of the bye-condut the reservoir itself has
continued in operation as usual. Owing to
the absence of proper facilities and the
lack of means to procure them, It is eX
planned, that the dredging operations at
the inlet to the reservoir have been neces-
sarily conducted on a small scale. causing
the work to drag along for a much longer
time than would have been necessary with
an adequate dredging plant
!: Time for Sedimentation.
Although it is admitted that the dredg-
ing stirs up the mud near the entrance to
the basin IT Is contended that the water
still has ample time for sedimentation dur
ing its subsequent progress through the
entire length of the reservoir, and that 1t
Is subject to still further sedimentation In
the big Washington city reservoir, near
Howard University, into which also flows
the water from the bye-conduit.
AS measure of extra precaution and in
order to avert any possible cause of criti-
cism on that point, Gen. Mackenzie gave
bye-conduit at this time If such a course
were possible without serious reduction
OF the water supply to the CRY. AS al
ready stated however. an investigation of
the situation convinced the army engineers
that the partially clogged up entrance
channel of the reservoir prevented the free
passage of sufficient water to meet the
continued use Of the bye-conduit, to a linn
tied extent at least, was necessary. The
repair of the reservoir will be completed
in a few days.