Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-18
NEW WATER MAIN
TWOM|[ESLONG
Sixty Thousand Dollars to Be
Expended for Territory East
of Capitol.
PLANS FOR IMPROVEMENT
PRACTICALLY DRAFTED
Will Reinforce Water Supply and
Augment Fire Protection in
Large Section.

Sixty THOUSAND dollars will be expended
from the general funds OF the District Of
Columbia water department during the
fiscal year that begins July 1 next in the
construction of a big main east OF Capt.
toll Hill for the reinforcement OF the Wa
ter supply of the northeast section OF the
city.
Plans for the improvement practically
have been decided upon according 10 an
nouncement last night. and the work
probably will be started some time in
July. The main viii be nearly two miles
long. Effort will be made TO have It in
stalled before the beginning of cold
weather.
The new pipe. which will have a diam
eter OF thirty inches. will extend north
on 18th street east TO l. street northeast.
and will be constructed TO connect with
the main running east on Benning road.
Several advantages are expected to re-
suit from its installation.
Summary of Benefits.
Not only Will IL reinforce the water
supply for that portion of the northeast
section of the city which lies south OF
street. but also IL will add TO the sup
ply of Anacostia. which is now furnished
through the main lying west and south
of Capitol Hill. In addition. IL is stated.
the ne~ main will furnish fire protection
for the Rosedale and sherwood sections
The Improvement has long been undef
consideration. but the department here
tofore has not been I'm position TO spend
as large an amount out OF its general
funds will be required for the under
taking.
That the increase in water rates de-
cf6nd q a
mssioners. is producing the results that
| were anticipated. and that the city's wa
ter distribution system VIII have been
fully metered at the end OF five more
years. was the statement yesterday Of
w. A. Mcfarland. superintendent OF the
water department.
Additional revenues obtained during the
present fiscal year through the establish
ment of the increased rates VIII have
made possible the installation OF 1000
meters by July I, Mr. Mcfarland said
| This will be just twice as many meters
| as have been installed in any previous
year.
1t lie proposed to put another Io.1S
| OF these water-saving devices into opera
| ton during the next twelve months. Bids
| for furnishing the meters have been re-
ceived and a contract will be awarded
some time during the present week. The
| price. II is expected. will be in the neigh
borhood of $Joooo or $6oo0o.
Says Meters Make Saving Possible.
Mr.. Mcfarland says that experiments
last winter proved conclusively that
meters will make possible a tremendous
saving in the water supply OF the capital.
The tendency of the householders In cold
| weather is to turn on the water TO pre-
vent pipes from freezing, he pointed out.
but this is not followed when the water
| is paid for at meter rates.
Observations were made in two sections
which practically were on a par with
each other in every respect, with the ex-
ception that one of them consisted OF
| houses that had been metered while the
other was made up of unmetered prem
Uses. said Mr.. Mcfarland. During cold
weather, he declared, Ii was found that
| consumption of water in the unmetered
| section increased 81 per cent, while TIE
| increase in the metered section was only
| ID per cent.
The superintendent said II had been
| found that the increased rates have had
little or no effect upon the small con-
| sumner, but that they have brought about
| approximately 81 per cent increase in
the bills of the larger users of water.