Evening star., 1921-01-28
U. ! .S.PAY ! |: FOR !. WATER v !
DEPARTMENTSUSE
DEMANDED IN BILL
ZihIman Measure May Have
Effect of Saving Local Sup-~
ply Now Wasted.
QUICK ACTION is SOUGHT
TO RELIEVE CONDITIONS

Government Now Has Free Use of
40 Per Cent Of Water Which
Is Consumed Here.
A bill to require the federal gov
ernment to pay for the water it uses
in the District is being prepared by
Representative Zihlman of Maryland,
for introduction in the House at an
early date.
Designed primarily to effect a saw
ing in water, it will be pressed for
action at this session as an emergency
measure of vital importance to cit1-
zens Of Washington and government
interests here.
Federal departments are said to be
wasting approximately 100000 gal
Ions Of water daily. Mr.. Zihlman be-
lieyes this waste could be prevented
IL. the government services were
metered and the water required to
be paid for
The United States now has the free
use of about 40 per cent of all the
water consumed in the District. while
private citizens stand the entire cost
Of the waterworks system, 1t is
stated. - -
f.. waste. In departments.
Engineers with whom Mr.. Zihlman
has conferred have told him that
enough water is wasted by the federal
to meet the needs OF lO0.-
coo additional residents The gov
ernment printing office. bureau OF en-
craving and printing and State, War
and Navy Departments are declared
to be the principal offenders in In
discriminate use OF filtered water for
condensing PURPOSES.
Not only is washington expected to
be removed from the danger line in
water consumption il the proposed
ZihIman bill is adopted. but it is be-
ieiysd a sufficient saving will be ef-
fected to enable the District to fur
nish water to neighboring communi-
ties in Maryland. which are said to
be much in need OF It.
Congress, in the District appropri-
alton act for 1913. gave the Commfs-
.sieners. authority to. .deliyFt water to
Maryland communities at the District
line In amounts not tesexceed 5ooo,eoo
Eaalons daily. whenever In their judG-
.ss.s s. a|esa 80 = sale z aes @ "
The Maryland suburban sanitary
commissioR has bees N4t1tHE ever
since fps an opportuafty t4e edstrinute
! assass M Z ~ I, 8 & I Eaa.E 4 q, 3
4l0UyaI AA0NOs cOHSa0e2eQ t&Yf. ststSsy*HS
~ theft hellins the, AsfJlAad cofa-
4 >e--1il Ne .Ineteaae {rsspests. III
Aside from the question Of supply, the
proposed yZihmhan,. sineasure probably
would operate to- pfetent further in
creases In sthe rates for .wAter paid BY
District ,issfs. Local. conBut@ @6Fs. carry
Ing the entire burden of the taterworks
syStefn. were assessed . 3 pee cent in
crease lin rates last year and further
advances. under existing conditions. are
aaidsto be likely.
were the federal government. how
ever, compelled to stand q part Of the
cost Of maintaining the gystem, it not
only would operate against further In
creases. it Is claimed. but also would
,paPtment so that 1t would be In a posi-
ton to.makS extensions and betterments
IN keeping with the city's growth.
The departments revenues. it is stat
ed. have been hard hit by the neces-
sity Of building extensions to goverh-
son advanced why the government. in
all fairness and equity. should contribute
to the upkeep and maintenance of the
water system.
study BY STANDARDS Bureau.
What rates the federal government
shall be assessed for water Representa-
tive Zihlmah probably will propose shall
be determined by the bureau of stand
ards.
Zihlman. the government printing Office
accounts for an average daily use OF
2.09O, 900 gallons Of water, which Is con-
densed for heat and power purposes.
This government department, he has
been told. could obtain the steam it re-
uuires from the Capitol power plant,
thereby saving the great amount OF
water II daily wastes.
The bureau Of engraving and printing
il declared to b using I 1.4l1.0oo gallons
OF iltered'water daily. when, by INSTALL
ing a motor pump. 1t could get until
tered water for it's, needs from the tidal
basin.
that domestic 9consumption OF water
the total: that large private con.
sumers use 10 per cent; the municipal
government, IS per, cent, and the
federal government, 40 per cent. sThe
domestic consumption is only 40 gal
Ions per capita, whereas the total con-
sumption is 142 gallons per capita.
Must Conserve supply.
i.1t- Is absolutely vital that some
thing be done to conserve Wash
inEton's. water. supply, pending the
construction Of new supply sources,
which, will require several years"
said Mr.. 14hlman today. THE water
| department has done good work in
preventing" waste tn domestic con-
sumption. It's hands have been tied
rs far as federal consumption is con-
cerned. 1t is imperative Congress
SHOULD act at once to remedy the
situation"
Francis r. Weller. chairman of the
water supply committee of the Board
Of Trade, said the bill proposed by
Mr.. Zihlman undoubtedly would re-
ceive the active support OF his COM
1T seems to be the prevailing
opinion" said Mr.. Weller, that the
United States paid for the construc.
| tion Of the water-works system and
| therefore, Is entitled to, the free use
| Of water. AS matter Of fact, the
total expended to pay for construc.
| ton purposes amounted to $2O,712,.
1856, Of which $7.5s1. 900 has beer
| contributed by the United States, o.
| slightly more than one-third Of TIN
Ltotal. 2!The balance has been paid by
| citizens of Washington, either bs
means Of taxes or water rents"
IRISH RAP ADMIRAL SIMS.