Evening star., 1921-06-06
RECORD WATER USE
THREATENS FAMINE
Washington's May Consump-
ton Exceeds Last Years.
Conduit Overtaxed.

disturbing. if not alarming facts
affecting directly the health and well
fare of every resident of Washington
ana the protection of government and
private property interests here came
10 iight today in the publication of
water consumption figures for May
Despite the general impression that
the capitafs population has been re-
duced through the exodus of war
workers, the water figures show an
average increase in consumption dur
ing May this year over May of last
year Of approximately 40O. 900 gal
Ions daily.
The highest single days. consump-
tion in May, 1920, was 63.422.17O gall
loHs. whereas the maximum amount
OF water consumed in single day in
May, 1921, was 66.3S7.590.
Conduit Capacity Exceeded.
The figures are significant when
considered in connection with the
fact that the estimated safe capacity
of the conduit. when it was built
sixty years ago. was $1,000 0o0 gal
Ions daily.
In other words. the conduit is now
being required to deliver nearly two
million gallons of water more a day
than the amount designated as its
safe capacity more than half a CEN
tury ago.
With the Army bill. providing an
initial appropriation for new con-
duit. brought up in the Senate today,
advocates of action by Congress to
put the capital beyond the danger of
water famine were hopeful the
May consumption record would assure
Immediate remedial legislation
1t was disclosed today that all of
the park fountains in the city. num-
bering more than forty, will be kept
out of commission this summer on
n 10
With the exception of the fountain
in front of Union station. which uses
the same water in constant turn
over. and the White House fountain.
which plays only on occasions of
Washingtonians will see a park
fountain in action until the city is
made secure by an additional water
supply.
Will Be Further Taxed.
The present water supply will be
subjected to an additional severe
strain when the rejecting pools being
constructed in Potomac Park be-
Washington Monument, are placed in
commission in the fall. The pools
will be filled with 100000 gallons
of filtered water. How often they
will be emptied has not been deter
mined. but it is believed during hot
tiSS VII oc s,iSVh d IL SSh
supply every two weeks. This would
represent a daily consumption rate
of about 100000 gallons.
Notwithstanding park fountains are
not running. and use of water in
sprinkl;ng sidewalks and lawns is re-
Stricted to a minimum heavier nor
NAL consumption demands, as shown
by the May record. and special de-
:na nds. such as will be created in the
of the reflection pools,
promised today to put 1921's consump-
ZION far beyond 1920's.
The latest single days consumption
figures obtainable are for last Friday.
when the 66,06S. S.620-gallon mark was
reached That the hot-weather months
will boost consumption close to the
30 900. 0O0- gallon line is not doubted
by water department officials.
Inspection Impossible,
Government and private engineers.
and of the latter there are several
who have made exhaustive studies on
their own account of the situation.
are wondering how much longer the
old conduit will stand up under. its
constantly increasing strain.
The demand for water is SO great
the conduit cannot be emptied for in
spection or repairs. The capital has
only about two days of water supply
in reserve and it takes a day to un-
water the conduit.
What the interior condition of the