Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-23
THE WATER SUPPLY
Report Of Capt. Cosby, En-
gineer in Charge.
LIABILITY TO ACCIDENT
Aqueduct More Vulnerable Than
Similar Structure.
WASTE OF POTOMAC WATER
Is Constantly Growing Greater--The
Filtration Plant Has No Ef-
feet on Typhoid.

In his annual report to General Macken-
zie. chief of engineers. Captain Spencer
Cosby. the engineer officer in charge Of
the Washington water supply system.
again invites attention to the danger OF an
interruption of the water supply by an
accident to the conduit. THAT structure.
he says, has stood for nearly half a
century and without interruption In its
use other than to empty 1t periodically for
cleaning. That fact is no guarantee that
1t will not be interrupted in the future. 1t
includes seven tunnels. aggregating 1894
linear feet, tn seamy rock, and unlined.
They cannot be lined until a new conduit
Is built. At every cleaning fragments
of rock are found to have been dislodged
from the roof There is an appreciable
risk of more or larger pieces falling In,
sufficient to block the tunnel for a con-
siderable time.
Supply Might Be Cut OF.
There are twenty-six cuverts, nearly all
in made ground, the failure of any one of
which would break the conduit. They are
OF massive construction. but equally strong
ones have been washed out and these may
be. The Dalecarlia (receiving) reservoir is
formed by an earthen dam across a val
ley. In this dam is the by-conduit. II
that da mshould break, the by-conduit
would be destroyed and the supply of the
District completely cut OFF.
Inc statement Is justffable that not
Withstanding It's fifty years of uninterrupted
use the Washington aqueduct is more vul-
nerable than the average of similar struc-
lures and that there Is risk of an accident
to 1t which would cut off the supply for
a period long enough to cause water
famine, which would involve cancellation
Of all fire insurance and a partial depopu-
latton of the city, besides other and more
calamitous consequences. That risk can be
underwritten only by the construction of
another conduit. or by increasing the sup
ply in some other way. With the idea of
insurance paramount a new conduit should
not be built alongside the present one but
should follow radically different course,
to reduce to a minimum the chance Of
single cause disabling both. For that rea-
son all possible alternative routes and
sources of supply should be examined and
the preliminary surveys become more Inn
portant and more extensive and will re-
quire more time.
IAN estimate Of $4,000 for the surveys
and investigations is submitted and Its
favorable consideration is urged The cost
of these surveys and any probable cost of
a second conduit will be very cheap in
surance against the interruption of the
water supply, which will remain constant
menace to the District until such insurance
is Effected
Waste Of Water.
Many tables in regard to the consump-
ton and waste Of Potomac Water are con-
tanned in the report. These show reduc-
ton in the average consumption this year
IS compared with last. largely due. Capt.
Cosby says, to the milder weather during
the winter months. The cold during the
early part of 1905 was much above the
normal and caused an abnormal increase in
the waste Of water, while the past winter
was an exceptionally mild one and the in
ORC in cQfa hn 1nQa han FIJI
any of the FIVE preceding years. The aver
age consumption and waste for twenty
four hours during the past year Is stated
at 67.700 gallons, being at the rate of 207
gallons per capita of estimated population
According to Capt. Cosby, table giving
the mean daily consumption from 1874 to
1905 shows clearly not only that the per
capita consumption Is much greater than 1t
should be. but that it is actually increasing
from year to year.
I'm other words" says he, 1.-THE waste of
water is constantly growing greater. The
great and unnecessary waste of water, the
danger of an actual shortage In the water
supply of the city of Washington due to
the extraordinary waste during the winter
months, the additional cost to the taxpay-
ers due to the waste at all times and the
danger of total interruption of the supply
are fully set forth by Lieut.. Col. Smith S.
Leach. Corps of Engineers, In the annual
report of 1906. Col. Leach recommends that
immediate and drastic measures be taken to
reduce the waste and that the preliminary
work for locating second conduit be au-
thorized at once. These recommendations
are earnestly repeated. The feasibility of
securing the additional supply from some
other point on the Potomac, above or be-
low Great Falls, or from an entirely differ
ent source should be carefully investigated
at the same time and the estimates of each
proposed system should be submitted
''The current appropriation for the District
of Columbia includes an item OF 100000
EOS ra,trr hoc a M Il, CT n ryn far
meters. This Is sufficient only for about
10 per cent of the service. Unless provision
Is promptly made to extend greatly the
installation of meters, so as to reduce eff
fectually the excessive waste of water. it
is of the utmost importance that steps be
taken Immediately to increase the water
supply OF the District. To make the nee
essary preliminary Investigations and sur
yeys an estimate OF $4,000 Is submitted.
1t is believed that this work should be UNI
dertaken whether or not 1t is decided to
meter all services.
The Filtration Plant.
In special chapter regarding the filtra-
ton plant. Capt Cosby says that all the
important work of construction was COM
pleted at the close of the fiscal year. the
work now in progress including the build
ing of concrete steps. grading. improving
the roadways and beauifying the grounds.
1T has been recognized" says he, from
the beginning that some method of prelim-
mary treatment. either chemical or mechan-
ical would have to be applied to the raw
water In order to secure clear and satis-
factory effiuent at all times. Several bills
providing for such treatment were intro
duced In Congress during the past session.
but none of them was acted on by either
house. Objections have been raised by cit
liens in the past to the use Of a coagufant
and 1t is hoped during the coming year to
carry onia series of experiments to deter
mine more definitely the best practical sys-
tenn OF preliminary treatment. As to the
necessity of some form of preliminary treat
ment. there can no longer be doubt, II
properly applied, 1t ought 10 increase the
efficiency and diminish the cost of opera
ton of the filters, besides acting as a safe
ty valve during an extended period OF high
turbidity in the river water, such as oc-
CURED during the latter part of June.
1906 1t is strongly recommended that au-