Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-26
LOCAL WATER SUPPLY
Discussed by Engineer Com
missioner Biddle.
TO PUT IN METERS
EXPERIMENT PERMITTED BY AP-
PRECIPITATION OF CONGRESS.
Would Have Additional Conduit to
Reinforce Supply-Views Of
Commissioners,

Waste of water in the District of Column
bia. as shown in the comment upon his an
nual report made by Col. Smith s. Leach,
Corps OF Engineers the officer in charge OF
the local supply system. and published IN
yesterdays Star, came in for considerable
discussion at the District building this
morning.
Col. John Biddle, Engineer Commissioner,
who is familiar with the situation in all its
phases, agreed fully with Col. Leach that
the waste of water in the capital has long
continued, frequently reaching alarming
proportions. We a;e planning 10 control
the consumption" said Col. Bddle, land
will soon begin the installation of water
meters. Five thousand dollars appropri-
ated by the last Congress for this purpose
became available only three weeks ago. and
efforts VIII be made to so d s.ritute the
meters to get the best results and to
give us. by the example of regulated use of
water against UNI eguiated fasis for
future effort in this line
Asked how many meters the appropriation
would pay for and install, Commissioner
BiCdle said about eco or 100, but he con-
tinued. we expect to have additional al
lowances by Congress to continue the
work.
Efficacy of Meters
Much confidence in the efficacy of the
water meters was expressed by Commits
sioner Eidd,e. He declared his belief that
people will not be wasteful when they
realize that the more water used the larger
will be their bills AT the present time
and until We have opportunity to judge of
the results attained by use of water
meters he said. we have no other plan
under consideration, though. if the meters
do not come up to expectations, it may be
necessary to devise some other check
Col. Biddle expressed himself as also in
favor of the survey advocated by Col.
Leach as preliminary for the construction
of new conduit, by the use of which the
supply to the city can be materially in
creased, and at the same time the danger
OF complete or partial shutting off of the
supply by a break in the conduit
because the water department does not
come under his supervision Commissioner
West was greatly startled by the EXPOSE
ton of Colonel Leach, showing the danger
which the city runs in allowing its water
consumption to continue at the rate which
las obtained at least during the year
covered the supervising engineers re-
ort. a particularly imminent danger was
seen by Commi ssioner West in the excess
of water used over the maximum capacity
of the new filtration plant. TT would
see m from the figures" he said. "as though
the government has acted like the father
o. family of sixteen who builds house
for twelve persons instead of allowing
space SulHclsnt Tor family of twenty,
which would not only afford shelter for the
existing family, but would allow for the
natural increase.
Il was under the impression he con-
tirued, that the new filtration plant could
turn out as high as 1900 600 to $50, 0OO, 600
gallons of purified water within twenty
four hours. If the filter beds can provide
only 100000 gallons per diem and the
daily consumption averages 10000, 900 gall
IONS, then II would seem that the vast
expenditure was for naught because the
deliberate turning into the mains of the
additional 100000 gallons necessary to
eet the demands of the city's population
would nulify any good that might be ac-
compEshed by the tiltering of the other
1900, 600 gallons"
Because the District government has only
u do with the distribution of water in the
city, while the War Department controls
the supply, Commissioner West could see
no immediate hope for improvement in
col ditionS.