Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-05-15
SHOWS SHEAWDRAFT
ON WATER SUPPLY
Col. Fisk Reports Big Increase
in D. c. Daily Average
Consumption.

Conservation of food and fuel is likely
soon to be followed by orders for the
conservation Of water in the District of
Columbia. According to Col. w. L. Fisk,
the retired engineer officer in charge Of
the water supply system Of the District,
the demands Of the system now are in ex-
cess Of its safe dependable capacity and
cali for the immediate consideration of
plans for increasing the supply to meet
probable increased consumption in the
near future.
In reports submitted to the War De-
partment, Col. Fisk shows that the
average quantity of water pumped to
the filters per day during the month Of
April was 62,3s0.000 gallons, which was
10000 gallons more than for the pre-
ceding March and 11.ss0,0oo gallons
more than during April. 1917. The
maximum daily consumption during last
month was 69.12o.o00 gallons and the
mIdimum daily was 100000 gallons.
6e-per capita daily consumption was
157 gallops.
Daily Consumption Increased.
The average daily consumption Of
water for the nine months of the pres
ent fiscal year, beginning July l, 1917,
was 61,670,000 gallons, as against an
average daily consumption of So $40 900
gallons during the preceding fiscal year.
The increased consumption Is shown by
the fact that the average daily con-
sumption for 1917 was 1,70O.0 900 gallons
in excess Of the average daily consume
tIA 1ojI Ivy
consumption for the nine months of
1918 was 100000 gallons in excess Of
that for a corresponding period of 1917.
Col. Fisk treats in conservative way
what some other engineer officers con-
slider a very serious situation. 'The
last few months" says Col. Fisk, have
shown such very large increase in the
amount of water used that 1t seems
necessary to take up very soon the
question Of additional supply to meet
probable increased consumption. The
unusual severity Of the past winter will
account for a portion of the increased
demand. but probably the greater part
is due to the large influx of population
tivity. A conservative rating of the
safe dependable capacity of the conduit
is 65,0O0,O00 gallons a day; 75.O00,000
gallons a day can be furnished for
time and, as an extreme, possibly 90,-
100000 day for a very short time.
Supplying the Filters.
For raising water to the filters there
are three 10000. 900 gallon pumps. one
being intended to be always in reserve.
The daily average consumption for the
past nine months is 61.670.000 gallons.
little greater than the rated capacity
for the two pumps intended to be suf-
ficient for the regular supply. These
pumps must therefore be constantly
overworked to that extent, while the
much larger consumption for consid-
cradle periods has made 1T necessary to
keep in use all three pumps, leaving no
reserve in case of mishaps to any one
of them"
Mai. Gen. William NJ Black, chief of
engineers, and his assistants are con-
sidering the best means of remedying
the situation through provision for an
that they will be prepared to submit
the matter to Congress before the close
of the present session.
Suggestions for Improvement.
Many projects have been submitted
in years past for increasing the water
supply of the city, but of these only
three have received serious considera-
ton. One of these calls for building
new aaueduct from Great Falls to Nc
MILAN Park reservoir. similar to the
present system; another is for building
a conduit from the Patuxent river, in
and the third. which COM
bined a power development, calls for a
high dam across the Potomac at Little
Falls. forming a large lake, from which
to pump water to the existing receiy-
ing reservoir at the District line.
Which one of these. If either. is ia