Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-07
Water Mains.


public hydrants and horse fountains
were erected during the year, and 3S3
fire hydrants, public hydrants and 2
horse fountains were abandoned, max
ing the total number in service at the
end of the year as follows: Fire ny
drants, $3.50; public hydrants. I'll; san
itary fountains, IL; horse fountains.
1852; deep wells "A, and shallow wells 9.
year was the completion and putting
into service of the Anacostia pumping
station and the extension of water
service to the higher land beyond the
Eastern branch. The next most lmpor-
tant project was the reinforcing trunk
main laid in the low-service area north
and east of Capitol Hill. This consisted
of about 1890 feet of 30-inch and 400
feet of 24-inch main, and completed a
loop much needed to insure uninter-
rupted service in the outlying portions
of the gravity service and throughout
Anacostia- Water service was also ex-
tended to the Home for the Aged and
Infirm at Blue Plains, D. c., necessitat-
ing the laying of 1900 feet of S-inch
main, reaching practically to the
southernmost point of the District.
Water Consumption and Waste.
By reason of the installation of
meters and the operation of the pit
ometer service a still further decrease
in the consumption of water was ac-
complished during the year. The pres
ent mean daily rate of consumption is
now about 100000 gallons and the
per capita rate 152 gallons. Measures
to reduce the consumption of water
were started in 1905, when the mean
daily rate had reached 100000 gal
Ions and the per capita about 227 gal
.onS. The decrease in per capita rate
since 1905 is SO per cent. The safe
mean rate of flow in the only conduit
supplying the city with water is about
100000 gallons daily. 1t is hoped
that the per capita rate can be finally
reduced to 100 gallons, and with the
population increasing at about the
same rate in the past the mean daily
consumption would then reach the
mean safe daily capacity> of the con-
duit in the year 1880. when the popu-
lation of the District, it is estimated will
be about 100000. By means of the pit
ometer service for the prevention of
water waste total underground leak
age was found and stopped amounting
to 2,552,O00 gallons per day. The total
expenses of this service were s3S.613.25.
The total pumpage of water during
the year was 1901, 100000 gallons.
Water Revenues and Expenditures.
The water revenues from all sources
during the year amount to $S28,396. $50.
The expenditures for the year amount
ed to $794.952.16. The outstanding net
liabilities June 80. 1914. were $32,497.sO,
leaving a working balance to the de-
partment on that date of S946.63. OF
the expenditures during the year about
SO per cent were for the extension of
the plant, 81 per cent for operation and
the balance for repairs and replace
ments.
Water is furnished free to churches
hospitals, orphan asylums, schools and
charitable institutions under authority
of law to the extent of 19,34S,60O cubic
allowance of from so to 100 gallons per
day, depending on the character of the
institutions. All water in excess of
that allowed is charged for at meter
amounted to 5.419,7Oo cubic feet during
the year.
Water Meters.
During the year there were installed
S.555 meters, making the total number
in service June so, 1914, 42,161 The total
number of water services is 66,9l4, and
of these 81 per cent remain yet I'M
metered 1t is estimated that the meter
ing of the city will be completed in the
summer of 1918. The average cost of
installing meters by the District Of Co
lumbia during the year was $1O54, in
$3.50. The rate charged for water on
metered services during the year was
cents per 100 cubic feet. The minimum
charge. allowing $500 cubic feet, is $3.50
PEI annum. The average annual rent
where meters were installed by The Dis
trict of Columbia was $3.50. Waterfront
bills are delivered to the householder
annually at the minimum rate. which
allows the use of $500 cubic feet, or &c.
100 gallons, and if on actual measure
To ho in
cess of this amount, bills are rendered
for such excess at the rate of cents
PEI 100 cubic ieet.
On the water services which are not
metered, water for domestic purposes is
charged according to the number of
stories and frontage. For premises of
two stories with a front width of six
teen feet or less. the minimum rate is
foot or fraction thereof 81 cents is
charged; for each additional story, one
third OF the charges as computed above
is added; for business premises not
metered, rates vary from 81 to SIS per
annum. Where the rate is $25 or more
a meter is required to be installed at
the expense of the consumer
Property Accountability.
March 81. 1913. the Commissioners
designated the auditor. the superintendent
of the water department and the DUR
chasing officer as committee with in
structions to recommend to them a sys-
tenn Of property accountability and rec
ords. May z. 1914. there were added to
this committee the superintendent of
sewers, the superintendent of the street.
cleaning department and Capt. R. G..
Powell, assistant to the Engineer Com
missioner. the latter being DESIGNATED
chairman of the committee
The committee has given careful con-
sideration to the subject and taken stems
to install a system which will prove 10
be economical and satisfactory.
Change in Personnel of Board of
Commissioners.
October 81, 1914, Lieut.. Col. Chester
Harding, Corps Of Engineers, United
States Army. detailed by law as a Com
missioner of the District Of Columbia.
was relieved from this duty by order of
the President and assigned to duty under
the Governor of the Panama canal. He
was succeeded as Commissioner by Mai
Charles W. Kutz, Corps of Engineers,
United States Army.
Very respectfully.
OLIVER P. NEWMAN.
FREDERICK L. SIDDONS,
CHARLES ~. KUTz,
Commissioners Of the District Of Co.
lumbia.