Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-27
CITY WATER SERVICE
Annual Report Filed by George
A. Wallace, Registrar.
RECEIPTS FOR PAST YEAR
Use of Water Meters and the Results
Attained.
WASTE OF LARGE PROPORTIONS
System Of Inspection Maintained
Itemized Statement Of Collections
Amounting to $4o5, 1880.
WASTE OF LARGE PROPORTION

The report Of Water Registrar George A.
Wallace for the year ended June 80. 1896.
as well as his estimates for the conducting
of business of his department from June.
1907, to June, 1905 has been received by the
Commissioners.
According to Mr. Wallace, the general
branch Of the water department has shown
large increase over the previous year,
keeping the force working to its utmost at
all times, necessitating the assignment of
inspectors to permanent Office duties, there
by limiting the field force to such an extent
as to greatly interfere with that branch of
the work. The actual Office force, it is
stated, in order to cope with the work,
should be increased by at least three clerks
and three meter computers. thereby dis
pensing with the employment of the field
force for Office duty.
Exhibit of Figures.
Mr.. Wallace's report, in part, follows:
Cash receipts posted, 61412 items, $4O5,-
1880; inspections made noted and record
ed, ISL $50; premises in which leaks were
found. 1884, leaks reported and traced
%, 1872; meters read, recorded and COM
puted H,729; Waterman tax notices
served by inspectors, 1854; water rent bills
delivered by inspectors, 1854; delinquent
water rent notices served by inspectors
5,521; water rent bills made out, 9,46l; taps
issued. !, 1876; stop cocks issued, 1,S52; per-
mts for water for building purposes, S34
plumbers permits examined, 3,621 files re-
ceived, recorded and acted upon, 116; let
tiers sent out, 2,163; refunds Of erroneous
and duplicate payments, $135.
Waste of Water
In reference to leaks and waste Mr.. Wal
lace says:
1.-The leakage and wastage of water In the
District Of Columbia has assumed such large
proportions that 1t Is imperative to have
as great number of inspectors on house
toulouse examinations as possible in order
that it may be checked. OF the 151,S7o In
spections made during the year 81 All were
of this class, and out of this number %, 1872
leaks and wastes were found in Is, $40 prem
ises. showing that there is a leakage and
wastage of water in one out of about every
five houses. This number does not include
inspections made with reference to leaks
which are reported, either orally or in writ
ing, by parties interested. In this class of
work a specially trained force Of inspectors
is detailed constantly, as the source of
the leak is, in great number Of instances,
not apparent from the point at which it
shows, and, in fact. breaks in water pipes,
flowing a full head stream have been found
which were indicated only by the flooding
Of some cellar perhaps one or two hundred
feet from the break. These leaks are de-
tected through the skill of the inspectors
and the use of water phones, with which
they are equipped.
Occupant Notified.
"When a waste of water is found the &C.
cupant, the responsible party, is notified
that unless immediate steps are taken to
check such waste the water supply will be
stopped and not again restored until the de-
partment Is satisfied that such conditions
will not again occur; it is seldom that such
action has to be taken, as, in the majority
of instances, waste of water is allowed to
run through the ignorance of the user of the
law bearing on the subject.
Premises in which wastes are found are
examined frequently by the inspectors to
see that there is no recurrence of these con-
ditions. Such inspection is especially neces-
sary during the winter months. there being
a general tendency to let water fixtures run
to prevent freezing
Special Inspections.
In speaking of special inspections Mr..
Wallace said:
"Under this head are included inspections
with reference to revenue ratings. such as
the re-measuring and plating of premises
with reference to frontage, depth or mean
measurement; examinations for stories and
the rating of business establishments, and
other items under the schedule; also, eX-
amnatious for correction Of mistakes by |
owners, over their signatures, in appica-
lions for permits to introduce water; eX
the changes In names of streets; to verify
changes of house numbers on notice from
the building inspectors office, and to note
the changes in the numbers of alley houses, |
Incident to the substitution by tenants for |,
numbers lost ilegible
"Of this class Of inspections there were
70,45S made during the year. None but
trained inspectors used on work of
this nature as it requires great skill in
many cases. The aggregate number of
inspections made during the year was
5,G63 in excess Of the previous year"
Use of Water Meters.
Mr. Wallace says that $3.50 new service |
connections were made during the year, and |
that there were 1921 repairs to service pipes |
and appurtenances. He states further that |
all large consumers now supplied or |
have been ordered to supply, their premises |
through water meters. the schedule rate |
of S25 or more being fixed by the Commits |
sioners as the amount. If this be reached |
or exceeded the owners of business premises
must meter their supply. Under this head |
about 100 premises have been ordered 10 |
meter. He states:
1.-TWO thousand four hundred and one |
water meters Of various sizes and kinds
are in use in the District of Columbia, an
increase of 297 over the previous year.
Under the act of Congress. approved June
q, 1906 about 1900 more are to be installed |
during the fiscal year 1907, which, with the
100 ordered to meter Will bring the total
number to about 6,5Ol.
1.-THE meters placed in squares 234, 235
and 23G under the orders of the Commits
soners have, even during the short period |
Of their installation, proved their efficiency |
in checking the leakage and wastage of
water in this class of premises
There has been no change In the schedule
of water rents for the fiscal year 1906 from
that of the fiscal year 1909.
Revenues Derived.
The table of comparative revenues shows
an increase of collections over the previous
wear and under a schedule of water rents
adopted by the Commissioners on Decem-