Evening star., 1909-08-28
STOPPING THE LEAKS
Work of Water Department
the Past Year.
DECREASE IN AMOUNT USED
Saving Of Over Three Millions of
Gallons of Water.
EFFICIENT PUMPING STATION
Report of Superintendent McFar-
land Submitted to the
Commissioners.
DECREASE IN AMOUNT USED
EFFICIENT PUMPING STATION

BY continuing along the line of stopping
leaks in water mains and connecting
pipes and preventing unnecessary waste or
use of water In other ways, the average
daily consumption OF water in the Dis
trict of Columbia has been reduced during
the past year from 64,5Oo,OOO gallons to
81 ,3OOOO gallons, despite an increase in
population of 5000 and the laying OF 36,
196 feet Of new water mains during the
year. This is according to the annual re-
port of the superintendent of the water de-
partment, w. A. Mcfarland, filed with the
Commissioners today.
Had 1t not been for this work in reduc-
ing the unnecessary wastes of water
throughout the District, 1t is indicated by
Supt. Mcfarland, at the rate Of increase
in consumption noted before this work
was undertaken. it is contended, the pres
ent conduit from Great Falls would not
nave been sufficient TO supply the District
with water.
Had the use of water continued to in
crease at the rate which prevailed from
1900 to 1904 says the report, "the pres
ent daily average rate would be about
81 100000 gallons, instead of 81 900. 600
with a per capita of 235. instead of 17S
In the absence of special preventive and
corrective measures there is no reason to
doubt that the rate would have so in
creased, especially as available water
pressures throughout the District average
more than 100 per cent higher than in
1896.
a mean daily rate for the year of 81
100000 gallons would mean a ma ximum
daily rate during cold weather of about
12o, 100000. The capacity of the present
conduit is 9O,O00.OO0 gallons
There was also a big saving in the
amount of coal used at the pumping sta
tion
Efficiency Of Pumping Station.
Another notable result obtained was
the increased efficiency OF the pumping
station" the report states. THE sta
ton duty secured averaged 95.6 mil
lions of foot-pounds Of work for each
100 pounds Of coal burned, an increase
Of 1I7 per centum over the dueyvob-
tanned during the preceding year. This
represents an. annual saving Of 643
gross tons Of coal, and there is every
Indication that there will be still fur
ther Improvement"
The cash collections Of the water de-
partment during the year. the report
states, amounted to $572,752.74, while
unexpended balances from previous al
lotments and deposits for special work
$666.270.S9. Cash payments and lia-
bilities contracted amounted to $685.
1882, leaving q nominal balance OF
$6S,146.S7 for starting the new year.
ment on pumping engine contract and
$4,000 repayment on meter loan.
During the year 96,796 feet Of water
mains OF all sizes were laid, an increase
of 1857 feet over the work Of the pre-
ceding year, and 100 additional fire hy-
drants We're erected.
Reducing the Consumption.
Supt. Mcfarland regards as the most
gratifying and notable result of the work
of the water department during the year,
however. the reduction in the water con-
sumption. The per capita daily rate
was reduced, the report shows by Is
gallons, and the total daily average con-
sumption by 3,2OO,OOO gallons These re-
suits. Supt. Mcfarland says, are attrib-
utable to three causes-the location and
stoppage of underground leaks. careful
house-to-house inspection and the in
creased use Of meters.
Accompanying the report is diagram
showing graphically the water consump-
ton per day for several years back. In
1900 the total daily consumption aver
aged about 4S,0OOOGO gallons: in 1902 it
had increased to about 5000, COO gallons:
in 1904 it was 63 100000 and in 1906 the
consumption per day was about 81 $50, 600
gallons. At that time the main efforts
to reduce the waste of water were be-
gun. and the average daily consumption
has been falling each year since. In 1907
the average consumption was about g.
600, 600 gallons; in 1908 it fell to about
GA. JOO. coo gallons, and in 1909 it was
about 81 100000 gallons.
Federal Governments Share.
Investigations during the year showed
that the federal institutions in the Ma
tional Capital used about IA per cent of
the entire water used in the District. The
average daily flow to the United States
government buildings was found to be
about S,5S3. 900 gallons.
Leaks in water pipes. which showed on
the surface OF the ground. and which were
repaired during the year, numbered 1,555.
There were 81 breaks In mains and service
pipes. So4 leaks in joints and 6T7 miscella-
neous leaks.
The report shows that there are $780,
164 feet of water mains of all sizes in use
in the District. as against 2.429, ,862 feet a
year ago: 2542 fire hydrants, as against
z, 422 a year ago: 128 public fountains. as
against 124 twelve months ago, and 24l
public hydrants, as against 257 at the
same time last year. In building new
water mains during the year covered by
the report S115, 7O1y7 was expended.
Supplemental to the report Is state
ment showing that the number OF public
wells in use In the District at the close Of
the fiscal year. June 80. was Al, Of which
ii are shallow wells and 80 are deep wells.