Evening star., 1922-02-21
PLAN STIFF FIGHT
0RC0NDU|T FUNDS
Board of Trade Committee
Determined to Have Appro-
priation in Bill.

Believing that il the Senate re-
stores the item recommended by the
Commissioners in the District appro-
priation bill providing for an ex-
penditure Of $3,000,00o for additions
water supply for the District, and
which was stricken out OF the bill
Dy The House, the amendment viii b,-
finally accepted by that body, the
water supply committee of The Board
or Trade. Of which Francis r. Weller
is chairman, together with othe,.
business organizations. drew up plans
yesterday for determined fight o.
have the appropriation included in
the Senate bill
The facts have been advanced by
prominent men in various oreaniZa-
tions that the Districts wafer suppIy
is in a critical condition and that tIl,.
CONDUIT now in use and which has
been in use for about sixty years is
not substantial enough to be de-
pended upon entirely. The Commits
sioners' recommendation, which the
House refused TO accept would pro-
Nlde ior the construction of a new
CONDUIT from Great Falls and would
insure safe and adequate water sup
ply Tor Washington. Several MEM
bers of the Senate District committee
nave inumated to Mr. Weller that Tia.
need for additional water supply il
realized by the Senate.
Only Two-Day supply.
Figures in possession of the Board
OF Trades committee show that tn.
supply of water in the various reser-
VoirS Is sufficient TO meet the normal
needs of the city for only about two
days. Should d break develop in The
conduit which would require mora
than two days TO repair. the city, il
is said. would he without water at
the expiration of that time. In that
event, the only recourse would H..
from the Potomac river and Rock
creek. which would bring great dan
ger Of disease because of the until
tered water.
Eliminating all possibilities Of a
break or interruption in the present
supply, the committee believes the
argument that the demand is in eX-
cess of the supply. is of equal i'm
portance, pointing out that long
hot spell would undoubtedly result
in water fanine because The daily
capacity of the aQueduct is less than
the consumption during exec esSiyelN
hot weather. This feature was
strtkingly illustrated last summer
when the daily consumption on sel
eral occasions reached 10000 .odH
gallons and for more than tw"
weeks continuously was in excess
of 7o.0oo.0o0 gallons. The maximum
safety capacity of the conduit has
been placed at 6S. 900, 600 gallons per
day.
Many Uses CurtaiIed.
Because of the unusual hot sumner
last year, it became necessary, il,
order TO insure a water supply for
necessities. that many forms of usage
such as lawn sprinkling. public foun-
tains, etc, be curtailed, and although
these precautions were carried out
the flow in some of the higher levels
of the District was irregular and at
times discontinued entirely.
The question of pumps is also or
great interest, Mr.. Weller, states, add
ing that insufficient pumping equip
ment makes the supply in the higher
level sections subject to interference
at any time.
The supply for the higher sections
of the District is sufficient for only
about one day under normal con-
sumption, and the two reservoirs
that provide this water are equipped
with only one pump. IL is said. The
danger of deprivation of steady
flow is again apparent here for it
is advanced that, should THE pump
become damaged and could not be
repaired within twenty-four hours.
some of the most thickly populated
sections would be entirely without
water.
This pump became out of order re-
Gently and. when the machinery was
finally repaired, it was found that
only about two hours supply was
left for the middle and higher sec
tionS.
Attention is also. called to the
! lack of an auxiliary system, such as
many cities possess, to provide
against an emergency resulting from
break or discontinuance of the
supply.
In addition to the construction az
new conduit from Great Falls. the
original plan of the Commissioner
called for new filtration plant az
the Dalecarlia reservoir. An initial
appropriation of 100000 was made
by Congress last year to cover the
cost of surveys, plans and prelim-
mary work The total estimated cost
of the project is s9.523, ,0oo. and if the
necessary funds are provided. ii is
believed the entire work can be com
pleted within three years.
Action is particularly desirable at
this time. it is stated by the commit
tee, for if no appropriation is made
now an entire year viii in all prob
ability be lost. with the consequent
increase of danger due to the doubt
full condition of the present conduit.