Evening star., 1909-08-26

rates of the pumps and filters were then
increased to 90,OO0OOO gallons per day.
Elevations were then taken at intervals
of two hours at manhole No. 1. Dalecarlia
reservoir outlet Georgetown reservoir in
let and outlet and Mcmillan Park reser-
voir inlet and outlet.
THE high rate was maintained for over
two days and during that time the water
was all pumped through the meters to
the filters and filtered. The surplus fill
tered water was wasted to the sewer
through the 4S-inch waste valve In the
east shaft gatehouse.
From the results of these experiments
it would appear that ninety million gal
Ions per day Is about the maximum ca
pacity Of the Washington aqueduct. At
that rate of flow the Georgetown reser-
voir is practically out of service. since
the water level is below the weir in the
division dam between the two parts of
the reservoir and most of the water has
to be carried around the reservoir
through the bypass. The Mcmillan Park
reservoir Is drawn down to elevation
to carry it on account of the pumps
which lift the water to the filters.
Less Time for Sedimentation.
AT this elevation the water is given
much less time for sedimentation and there
Is SO little storage that it would be i'm
possible to close the gates at Great Falls
to exclude the water at times of high tur-
bidity or to drain the conduit for repairs
and inspection. Similarly to maintain this
high rate it would be necessary to keep all
three pumps constantly in operation.
Therefore under present conditions it
would not be safe to attempt to supply fill
tered water at this high rate, except for
very short time. the exact duration of
which would depend on the amount of
storage available at the beginning of the
high COnSumntiOn However 10 nf
consumption has rot at any time exceeded
SO,OO0,OO0 gallons per day since the winter
of 1905. when it exceeded 90, 600 900 gallons
for twelve days. With the general in
stallation of meters and the results OBJ
tanned by the pitometer surveys Of the
District Of Columbia it is not expected
that this high rate of consumption will be
again reached until the average daily con-
sumption shall pass 7O.OoO.0OO gallons
Average Consumption Shown.
Tables are given to show the average
consumption Of water per twenty-four
hours, by years from 1874 to 1906, and
by months from July, 1899, to date.
These tables show that the average
daily consumption during the fiscal year
1909 was 61,470,OO0 gallons as compared
with 64,91O.000 gallons for 1908 and
66.9OO,OOO for 1907. The average per
capita LOT the ISCdI year
1909 was ITO gallons as compared with
1872 gallons for 1908 and 2O3 gallons for
1907. The maximum consumption for
any day during the past year was 49,
100000 gallons. These figures are based
on a population of 343,0 ,003, according to
the police census for 1909.
Maj. Morrow says that in accordance
with the act of Congress approved May
26, 1908, appropriating $4,000, pre-
liminary Investigations and surveys
were made for increasing the water
supply Of the District. The results of
these Investigations were submitted in
a special report to the chief of en-
gineers in July last, which will not be
made public until submitted to Con-
gress in December next. Summarized,
for the construction of a new aqueduct,
provided the measures for the preven-
ton Of waste are completed as rapidly
as can be economically accomplished.
Installation of Meters.
Recommendations are made for the
completion within three years of the in
stallation of meters in private services.
for the metering within one year of all
government services and for the imme-
diate construction of a coagulating plant
and the renodeling Of the reservoir for
use in connection Herewith.
Tables are given also showing the re-
suits of the filter and pumping station
operations and of the sanitary analyses.
The turbidity of the water applied to the
filters exceeded so on thirty-three days
during the year, and at no time exceeded
100 The turbidity of the filtered water
was 1 or more for 26 per cent of the
year; for 10 per cent of the year it
was 2 more. and it reached or
more during per cent of the year. The
experiments with the filters have not
been completed, and the final conclu-
sions cannot be drawn, but, says Maj.
Morrow, the results seem to indicate q