Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-25
Water Supply Observations.

To the Editor Of The Star:
1 have, with others, heard Gen. Meigs
the engineer under whom the Washington
aGueduct was constructed) say upon more
than one occasion that upon completion of
Washington aqueduct it would probably be
the most perfect in the world, for the fol-
lowing reasons
That the cost of the water to the con-
sumner would be nothing In many cases
and very Sigh. in others; that owing to
its large receiving and distributing reser-
voirs the water would be in such abund-
apce as to give time for settlement to take
place In case of prolonged muddy river
there would be sufficient water in reserve
to use without running the river water into
the reservoirs, in its muddy condition, UNI
less an extraordinary rainy season were
to set in. Then 1t would filter itself by de-
posits, thus obviating the necessity of
main tanning costly mechanical or chemical
appliances.
The capacities of the various reservoirs,
cerlia, about $4,000, 600 per day; distribut-
ing, about $4,000 600 believed to be under
rs ted) Howard University, 1913, 100000 per
day together with Fort Reno and other
small reservoirs, this plant will easily bring
the total up to 3O00OO,000 gallons Of water
per day, storage capacity. This, on a basis
of 100000 per day consumption, can be
Sd manipulated as to extend over period
sedime ntation to take place.
The amount of deposits in twenty-four
hours, as stated by the officials in charge,
is follows: The Dalecarla reservoir re-
moves siXty-five per cent of suspended mat
ter, the distributing reservoir two and two
teLths per cent, and a further removal
takes place In the pipes at other connec-
tons, or a total of removed suspended mat
ter of seventy per cent.
The Dalecarlia reservoir removes sixty
one and four-tenths par cent of bacteria;
the distributing reservoir, twenty-one and
two tenths per cent of bacteria, and the
PIPES at other connections, one and four
tenths per cent, making a total of eighty
four per cent with the addition of the
further removal by the Howard Uuiver-
sity reservoir, which will probably add five
per cent removal to EACH making a total
of seventy-five per cent of suspended mat
ter and eighty-nine per cent of bacteria.
These are the figures given by the late
Col Alexander M. Miller and Robert Spur
Wilson, chemist.
The above being statements made by
these in authority confirm the predictions
of Gen. Meigs.
1t therefore becomes an inquiry on the
part of the taxpayer to know to what use
the filtration plant can be put (even If 1t
works., as there will be such small
amount of matter In the water.
Another remark was made by Gen. Meigs
that these water works were so constructed
that a larger portion of the District would
be furnished with water by gravity alone
and If pumping In the future should be re-
CURED 1t would only be to a limited extent.
Now. the taxpayer asks, why was the
filtration plant located in such an out-of
the way and improper place and still more
strange, why should the filtration plant be
located higher than its supply which will
prevent the water from flowing to it by
gravity and require every drop to be pump
ed into II at very heavy cost.
Had the filtration plant been constructed
a few feet lower at least two thirds of the
pumping would have been avoided.
At the time the appropriation for the fl
tration rlaEt was asked of Congress the i'm
precision was conveyed that the filterng
would be SO nearly automatic mechanf-
| cal that after completion of the plant there
would be little or no additional cost. We
are now informed by those in authority
| that 1t will cost at least SO per million gal
| Ions, and on the basis of the consumption
| of 1oOO0OOO gallons per day will cost $420
alone per day.
| Again the shutting off of the valves at
| the distributing reservoir and of the iron
| pipes that are now used as conveying pipes
| for water into Washington, and converting
| them solely into distributing pipes, will
| force the filtration plant and the entire city
| to depend entirely upon what is known as
| the Washington or Lydecker conduit, con-
meeting the distributing reservoir with the
Howard University reservoir. This conduit
| has a capacity of about 5000. 900 gallons
| per day. but the rapid accumulation of de-
| posts at the low points of this conduit
| (some of the points being below that OF
| the surface of the Potomac) will lessen the
| capacity and compel occasional cleaning,
and when this takes place the filtration
| plant will be compelled to go out of use.
Then the only means OF getting water into
| Washington will be by the old method
| through the iron pipes extending from the
| distributing reservoir along the Canal road.
Again great is the pressure in this
| conduit, before mentioned at It's low points,
| running up to the neighborhood of 10000
| pounds to the square foot, that 1t will not
be surprising for a break to occur at any
| time. GEO. W. KING.