Evening star., 1917-09-09
MAY demand PROBE
OF WATER SERVICE
District Officials Show System
Imposes InequitabIe Bur-
den on Taxpayers.
PLAN APPEAL TO CONGRESS

With approximately 100000 of water
department revenues in sight that must
be turned back into the federal Treas
ury because of lack of authority to ex-
pend it on extensions and betterments,
District government officials. it was
learned last night, are convinced the
present system of operating the water
department is unsatisfactory and they
may appeal to Congress for relief.
A preliminary survey by local officials
of the water situation growing out Of
the action of Congress in withdrawing
the contributions of the federal govern
ment toward the maintenance of the
Washington aqueduct has developed
some interesting facts, among them that
the taxpayers of Washington are now
paying the United States about ~ per
cent ON its investment in the local water
plant.
See Need Of Investigation.
This disclosure. coupled with the fact
that the revenues derived from existing
rates are going to exceed by about
$4,000 the amount Congress has said
may be spent by the department this
current year, has convinced local au-
thorities it is time thorough investi-
cation were made of the entire opera
tions of the system.
1t practically is certain that the mat
ter will be considered by the Commits
sioners this month, in connection with
the framing of the Districts annual es-
Inmates. and the forthcoming budget
to Congress-
Facts Developed.
Here are some of the facts bearing on
the situation:
The mean daily consumption of water
by the federal government in the Dis
trict of Columbia has been ascertained
to be approximately 100000 gallons.
At the rate charged private consumers,
the United States would pay for water
used approximately s525. 900 per an
mum. However, the United States pays
The present estimated value of the
entire water service plant, including
reservoirs, aqueduct. filtration plant,
pumping stations and distributing
United States in this investment is
fixed at $7,00O,000
Under the provisions of the current
appropriation act the entire expenses
of the water service. including supply
and distribution, are paid from rev
enues derived from water rents. On
the basis of the figures given above.
private consumers, therefore, are pay
ing the United States government in
terest on its investment at the rate of
742 per cent.
Prior to June 80. 1916, the United
States contributed to the expenses. as
appropriation acts up to that date pro-
V1ded for the expenses of the Washing
ton aqueduct on the half-and-half plan.
Since then the expenses of the auue-
duct have been added to the other ex-
penses of the water department and
paid from the water revenues There
was appropriated for the aqueduct for
the fiscal year 1917 the sum of sl36. 600
and for the fiscal year 1918 the sum of
S151.60O, these amounts to be paid out
of the revenues of the department.
Restriction on Expenditures.
The current appropriation act places
an entirely new restriction on the ex-
penditures that may be made by the
water department Heretofore, these
the amount Of revenues. but under the
limitation imposed by the new legisla-
ton the department this year will be
deprived OF the use of portion of its
proximately $4,000. Congress appro-
priated a total of about s625,OO0 for
the aqueduct and expenses of the water
department during the present fiscal
year. whereas It is estimated the rev.
enues of the department will be ap-
proximately S6S5.000. As there is no
authority for the utilization of the ex-
cess amount, it will have to be turned
back into the Treasury
Expressed in another way, the pre-
liminary investigation of the situation
shows that the United States and the
District use about So per cent of the
water distributed in the District: that
taxpayers, who use the remaining 45
per cent, pay the entire cost of dis
tribution; that the present rates are
sufficient to meet all expenses this year
with about $4,000 left over. which.
under existing legislation. cannot be
federal government, which pays moth
ing for the water it consumes, is re-
ceiving Y per cent return on its in
vestment in the water plant.
The question of the just and proper
of the expenses of the water
to be assessed against the
parties benefited. namely. the United
States government, the District of Co
lumbia and the people. is one which
seems to be of sufficient importance to
merit a careful and impartial investi-
cation by experts said an official of
the District engineer department last
night.
Points Suggested for Inquiry.
such an investigation should include, |
with other things, accurate valua-
tion of the water service plant de- |
termination of the proper and reason |
able water rents to be charged all con- !
sumers and the establishment of a fixed !
rate of return on capital invested
1T would be we'll to extend such an |
to include a study of |
suitable measures of conservation.
The water department is not in a /
position. either from the standpoint of /
personnel of funds. to conduct an
investigation of the scope indicated 1t
is expected, however. that before the
annual estimates are submitted to Con-
gress a plan with this end in view will
be laid before the Commissioners"
Fatal, To THREE ROWS