Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-29
THE WATER SUPPLY
Superintendent Views on
Underwriters Findings.
HE DEFENDS SYSTEM
BUT ADMITS THAT SOME I'M
PRovEMENTs ARE NEEDED.
Agrees That Local Water Consumption
Should Be Reduced or Supply
Greatly Increased.
HE DEFENDS SYSTEM

The report on conditions regarding fire
protection in the District of Columbia,
made by the national board of fire under
writers during the past summer, Is being
carefully analysed by the heads of all de-
partments of the local government which
were concerned in the criticism or praise
melted out by the underwriters. This Sec
ond summing up. which Is in pursuance OF
orders of the Commissioners is already
well under Way-the first of subreports,
that of Superintendent Mcfarland Of the
water department. having been received by
the Commissioners yesterday.
The first question dealt with by Superfn-
tendent Mcfarland is that involving the
expansion of the proposed high-pressure
service outside the district Of congested
values. The value of such plan is adj
mitted by the water superintendent
most pertinent comment being that sit is
merely a question of additional cost"
Other suggestions by the underwriters in
connection with the high-pressure service
included a recommendation that the 49,
inch main feeder of the system be con-
nected at Trumbull street station with
pumps of at least 10000 600 gallons capa-
city per day, pumps to be capable of MAIN
tanning pressures in congested value dis
trict equivalent to those which would be
generated by the static head due to the e1e-
walton of Reno reservoir; that hydrant bar
rels be not less than eight inches In dia-
meter, and all fitted with several outlets,
preferably four, and each outlet to have an
Independent valve; that at least two hy-
drants be located at each intersection of
streets, spacing in no case to exceed 200
feet and that a sufficient number of gate
valves be provided SO that any single side
of a block may be cut out without interfer-
ing with service in other parts of system,
the interval between valves in no case to
exceed 800 feet"
Superintendent Mcfarland deals with
these subjects in turn in the following Ian
guage:
In my opinion the connection of the
high pressure fire service with pumps OF
20,o00,0o0 gallons capacity daily is scarcely
justified by existing conditions To give
this additional pump capacity would re-
quire the building of an additional pumping
station. The system, as planned by me.
would be served ordinarily by a reservoir
holding reserve supply of 100000 gall
Ions and by pumps with a total daily ca
pacity of 100000 gallons. In the event
that the reserve supply should be ex-
hauSted and these pumps unable to MAIN
tain the necessary pressure, there would
be an additional reserve supply Of "a OOO 600
gallons, at an elevation of IA feet less
than Reno. with pump capacity of more
than 2OOO0,OO0 gallons per day. If how
ever, it should become necessary or desir-
able to install pumps of 10000 600 gallons
capacity for fire service, these pumps
should, in my opinion, be located near the
water front and draw their supply direct
from the river. A proper ARRANGEMENT of
check valves would prevent any danger
OF this water entering the domestic service
mains. With an installation such as this
pressures could, if desirable, be carried
even higher than those due to Reno reser-
voir level.
In my opinion. the hydrant already
adopted by this department for the high
pressure service is extremely well suited to
that purpose. 1t has 9-inch barrel and
one 4-inch and two 2h-inch outlets, each
with independent valve. Four or five lines
OF hose could be run from each of these
hydrants after the installation OF the high
pressure service.
More Hydrants.
''It is the intention of the department to
locate two of these hydrants at each street
intersection. with intermediate hydrants so
located that spacing Will not exceed 200
feet.
The desirability Of such an arrangement
of gate valves is fully realized by this de-
ana mas been carried on for several years,
as funds permit"
Another recommendation of the under
writers was: That immediate measures
be taken to largely reduce the per capita
rate of water consumption failing which
steps be taken to increase the conduit ca
pacity."
OF this Mr.. Mcfarland says: THE in
stallatlon OF meters has been begun and
authority has been asked for the installa-
tlon or large additional number during
the next fiscal year, with a view to reduc-
uon OF the present excessive waste The
necessity for an additional conduit from
dreat rails to this city Is obvious"