Evening star., 1921-07-04
j. s. ACTS TO SAVE
WATER IN DISTRICT
Generating Plant Using 50O,.
600 Gallons Daily to Be
Shut Down.

Agitation for saving of filtered wa
ter used for condensing purposes in
government departments bore fruit
today, when it was announced the
generating plant of the tSate, War
and Navy building would discontinue
operations until fall. thereby making
possible a saving of nearly a million
gallons of water a day.
Ihe announcement was made by
Col. c. o. Sheriff., superintendent of
pubic buildings and grounds. He
said the plant would be idle until the
beginning of the heating, season. In
the meantime the State, War and
Navy building and other government
structures supplied with current from
that building will be connected with
,he Potomac Electric Power Com
pany's service.
May Stimulate Efforts.
1t is expected the announcement
made to bring about a general sur.
vey OF water consumption in the Dis
trict and. especially, in the gov
eminent departments. where about
o.0OO.OO0 gallons of filtered water are
used daily in condensing operations.
Inc government printing Office and
the bureau of engraving and print
ing are the principal users in this
respect
Several plans have been suggested
for preventing this waste. One con-
templates the installation of an addi-
tional turbine at the navy yard power
plant. so that this plant could de-
liver current to all government build
lngs that operate separate generat-
ing units. With respect to the bu-
reau of engraving and printing, it has
been suggested this building could
tDty e..
from the tidal basin. which would
lessen the consumption of filtered
water by more than a million gal
Ions day.
Waste Under Investigation.
Senator Norris of Nebraska is inves-
tigating the question of water waste,
and has indicated he will introduce a
resolution in Congress shortly de-
signed to reduce consumption.
Representative Zihlman of Mary
land has written to the President pro-
posing a water survey, and Samuel J.
Prescott has an appointment to go
over the situation tomorrow with the
Presidents secretary. George B..
jr.
Mr.. Prescott's idea is, if a survey is
made, it should cover government as
we'll as private consumption of water,
and present a plan for reducing con-
to a point where the pres
ent, conduit would not be taxed be-
yond it's safe capacity of $4,000. 900
gallons daily while the new conduit
by Congress is being built.
He will point out to Mr.. Christian
that the existing conduit is sixty
years old. and is now delivering more
than 70.00O,000 gallons of water daily.
not to mention a peak delivery OF
nearly S2,0O0,000 gallons reported one
day recently.
Quick Relief Problem.
Not only are economy measures i'm
perative, but the people should be
made to realize. Mr.. Prescott will in
form the White House, that water
conservation will have to be prac-
ticed religiously until the new con-
duit is built, which means from three
to five years. if the danger of a COM
plete breakdown of the water sup
ply system is to be averted
Decision to shut down the State,
War and Navy building plant means
only temporary solution of the prob
lem of saving water in that building,
but the saving. it was pointed out,
will come at a time when the general
water consumption in the District is
heaviest. The big thing is to relieve
the present strain on the conduit and
a saving of million gallons a day
will be no small item. 1t is believed
survey of the situation generally
will make possible an eventual saw
ing of not less than 100000 gallons
day.