Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-11
WASTE OF THE WATER
Average Daily Local Consump-
ton Over 100000 Gallons.
REPORT OF MAJOR COSBY
Capacity of the System Threatened by
Existing Practices.
THREE REMEDIES SUGGESTED
Installation of Meters Must Be More
General or the Supply Must
Be Increased.
REPORT OF MAJOR COSBY
THREE REMEDIES SUGGESTED

system, devotes a large portion of his an
nual report submitted to Gen. Mackenzie
chief of engineers, today to the considera-
ton of the best means of preventing excess
sive consumption and waste of Water. A
table is given which shows that with a
population, according to the police census,
OF 329o9l the average daily per capita
consumption of water in the DistrctHof CO.
lumbia during the past fiscal year was BOB
gallons. and that the maximum daily con-
sumption was 900 gallons February
1G, 1907.
THE average daily consumption and waste
during the past year was fG9O0, 600 gallons.
The slight dminution in the total, and
the per capita consumption of water for
the fiscal year 1907, as compared with the
previous fiscal year" Maj Cosby says,
should probably be attributed to the sys-
tematic crusade against waste conducted
by the District of Columbia water depart
ment 1t may also, to some extent, have
been due to the better quality of water
supplied. During the hot portion of the
summer the daily consumption showed a
high average with slight fluctua tons Dur
ing the winter fluctuations of p per cent
in forty-eight hours took place, and the
maximum daily consumption occurred dur
ing spell of cold weather. In the cool
spring months the fluctuations were slight
and the average consumption was the low
est for the year.
Daily Capacity of the System.
In the annual report for 1905 it was
stated that taking into consideration the
fluctuations which experience shows will
occur, 65,0OO,00O gallons per day Is the
greatest annual average quantity Of wa
ter that the system can be safely counted
upon to supply. The average for the past
year was slightly above that figure. 1t
is only reasonable to expect that weather
no. c,iv,
ing January and February, 1905, VIII re-
cur and result, as then, in an abnormally
great use of water.
During February. 1905 the average con-
sumption and waste for thirteen consecu-
tive days was greater than what Mr.. Hazen
considered to be the extreme capacity of
the system which can be reached for
short time Mr.. Hazen's figures took into
consideration the new factors introduced by
the filtration plant, which was not in opera
ton during February, 1905. Since his COM
putations were made new condensers have
been installed in the discharges to the main
pumps at the filtration plant, and that has
to some extent increased their capacity.
The probable number of days during which
an output OF 9o,OO0OOO gallons per day
could be maintained has been increased.
THE maximum daily output is limited by
the capacity of the conduit and has not
been increased.
Three Remedies Suggested.
Attention is again invited to this serious
condition, and three possible remedies are
suggested below:
First. Reduce the present constant
waste. 1t Is believed that a per capita sup
ply of 100 gallons per day Is more than am
pie for the present needs Of the city. In all
cities, the data Tor which are at hand, 80
per cent of the services are metered. and
the average per capita consumption is Ga
gallons per day.
I'm only one case is the per capita con-
sumption above 100 gallons per day. 1t is
believed that by universal metering and
charging for water according to the quanti-
ty used the daily consumption and waste In
the District of Columbia can be reduced to
10 gallons per capita. or a total of about
40, 0O00 gallons per day, with the present
consumer would be less than under the pres
ent wasteful conditions. Only IL per cent of
the services are now metered, though this
Will be increa sed to about 20 per cent by the
end of the fiscal year 1908.
Second. Obtain new and independent
supply. The arguments in favor of this
course are set forth In the annual report
of the chief of engineers for 1903. Such
work will require time and money. 1t
should be preceded by a thorough and
careful investigation Of all possible sources
and routes Of supply. An investigation at
this time will be of value whether the
work is undertaken at once or not. To
make the necessary preliminary investiga-
tons and surveys an estimate 6 $1,000 is
again
Third. Install one or mere booster
pumps along the line Of the Washington
aqueduct to increase the flow while main
tanning the supply in the reservoirs This
method should be considered only as an
expedient to tide over an emergency 1t
would not materially increase the extreme
capacity of the system, but would make
it possible to deliver the full $4,000, 900
gallons per day for an indefinite time.
An Emergency Fund Needed.
I'm the past estimates have been sub
mtted to cover only actual maintenance
expenses and improvements When Il break
or other contingency occurred necessitat-
ing any unlooked-for expenditure, 1t was
necessary to stop ordinary operations 50
as to cover the extraordinary expense
Should however. a serious break occur dur
ing the last part of the fiscal year the
funds available might be inadequate and
a disastrous condition result.
AN appropriation of 81, 200 is recommend
ed to constitute an emergency fund, to be
used only in case of serious break re-
quiring immediate repair in one of the inn
portant aqueduct or filtration plant struc-
lures, such as dam, conduit, tunnel,
bridge. building or important piece of ma
chinery, all expenditures from this appro-
priation to be reported in detail to Con-
gress."