Evening star., 1921-06-29
PRESIDENT ASKS
D. c. WATER REPORT
Survey of Serious Situation
Is Indicated by White
House Statement.

Save water in the District" prom
ised today to become mandate Of the
administration.
Announcement by George B. Chris
tian, jr.. secretary to the President.
that he would request a statement on
water consumption from Brig. Gen.
Beach. chief OF engineers of the
Army. was believed to insure inter-
vention by the White House in a sit
uation which daily is becoming more
serious for the people OF Washington.
Should an executive order be issued
for a survey of water consumption 1t
probably will head on a movement by
citizens to bring about water econ
omy through legislation. Recently
there has been agitation to revive the
zihlman bill. introduced at the last
session, to require the government to
pay for the water 1t uses.
May Withhold Measure.
Representative Frederick n. Zihl-
man of Maryland, author Of this
measure, indicated today he would
not introduce it at this session II the
White House takes steps to prevent
water waste through administrative
The theory Of the zihlman bill was
that. If the government were required
to pay for water. it would be more
careful in the use of it.
Mr.. Zihlman believes the measures
purpose will be accomplished il an in
sumption in the departments and
steps taken to prevent waste and ex-
travagant practices
The government service is now IS
per cent metered. officials of the
Washington aqueduct Office said to-
~ n<<s
in the departments has been in prog
ress for five years. the installation
having been ordered SO that officials
might keep a check on government
consumption, although the govern
ment does not pay for the water it
the departments used between ten
million and eleven million gallons of
water a day.
Great Waste In Alleged.
There are water department OFF,
cials who believe the government
wastes more water than it actually
uses. Whatever may be the fact as
to this, there is unanimity of opinion
among officials that hundreds of thou
sands Of gallons Of water could be
saved daily through judicious prac-
tices. A survey, it is believed. would
Indicate large number OF small
economies tnat COulu Oe put luto cl =
feet, and the total of these would
represent saving that might amount
to a million or more gallons a day.
The most serious factor in the gov
ernment's use Of water Is the amount
that is required by certain depart
ments for condensing purposes. these
departments operating individual
light and power plants.
The May consumption record shows
the government printing ofi1ce used
on an average Of a million and a
half gallons a day. for condensing
purposes. The bureau Of engraving
and printing last month used a mil
lion and a quarter gallons day on
the same account. while the State War
and Navy departments used an average
Of 1,067 900 gallons day.
Plans Suggested.
Several plans have been suggested
by which the buildings in question
could obtain light and power with
out having to use filtered water in
their steam plants.
None of the plans can be INSTALL
ed without expenditure Of considor-
able money. but any one of them, If
adopted. would save the District at
least fve million gallons of water
day. Such a saving, 1t Is claimed,
might relieve the strain on the Great
Falls conduit to an extent that a
breakdown in the supply system could
be averted while the new conduit,
authorized by Congress, is being built.