The Washington herald., 1907-09-13
WATER SERVICE PAYS
Revenue for Last Year Shows
Material Increase.
/ SUPT. MCFARLAND REPORTS
Records Many Improvements-Onl
SeIf-sustaining Department of the
District GOVernment-NO Estimate
of Expenses Required-GreHtIy Re
duce Leakage and Waste.

The revenue from the District water de-
partment for the fiscal year ended June
80. 1907. was $685., 95092, an increase over
the preceding year OF Sl30 1902. according
20 the annual report of Supt W. F. Nc
Farland This is the only self-sustaiHing
department of the District government
and an estimate Of expenses is therefore
not submitted.
Notable improvements in the service in
the way Of locating leaks are recorded.
BY means of the Cole pitometer. c. c..
Smith operator I'm charge. q daily waste
of $4,000 gallons has been stopped. This
division was organized early in the year
for the purpose OF locating waste water
from any cause whatever. either improper
use or underground leaks. The general
leakage and waste of water has been cut
down about one-hfth. the records showing
that out of 1854 premises visited there
were 1900 leaks discovered.
Water Meters Installed.
With regard to the installation Of
water meters, concerning which there
was some opposition on the part of prop
erty owners. the report says.
October a tie work of installing the
meters was begun, and with few delays
continued until the end of the fiscal year.
up 10 which time 5.46S meters had been
installed. The work was begun at the
highest part of the District the fourth
high service in the vicinity Of TeEually-
town. and continued down through the
third and second high service areas, all
t-cXisting residences being metered as the
work progressed.
THE reason for beginning work on the
higher areas was two-fOid. First. because
the water delivered to those areas costs
much more 10 furnish. and any reduction
of waste would result in an immediate
reduction of cost, and second, because
these areas being wholly served by pumps,
any considerable reduction IN per capita
can be readily observed. The use Of these
meters for determination OF water rates
was not begun until July ].
Set Outside OF Houses.
Meters are set on the service pipes
outside Of the houses in vaults formed
I of l5-iuch terra Gotta pipe with a cast
/ iron cover. Much delay and additional
I expense was caused by the scattered To-
cation Of houses in the outlying districts.
and by the difficulty, in many cases, OF
finding the service pipes.
pHI Itlit opposition 10 iit bittii-S Ft
meters has been encountered. and this
opposition is rapidly decreasing with a
better understanding Of the conditions in
volyed An especial effort has been made
+ To avoid DETACHMENT of lawns and sur
|rouudings. and these efforts have as a
/ rule, been appreciated by the parties in
/ tprested
/ or the 100000 allotted. SOS go % was OK
pended during the year; this, Of course,
/ including organization and purchase OF
plant and tools. The actual cost per
meter. including all work and material,
was about Sl7.
The amount Of water pumped during
! the year by the pumping stations was
/ 9354 20 gallons, or more than .. 100000
gallons daily.
THE work Of the revenue and inspection
branch of the water department has
shown an increase of 80 1-9 per cent over
/ last year, and recommendation is made
/ that the Office force be increased by at
/ least three clerks"