Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18
WATER SYSTEM
INQUIRY WILL BE STARTED SOON
Fund Provided for Committee to Visit Several
Cities to Ascertain Value of Plan
for Downtown Washington. ~

Considerable study win be given by
the District Commissioners before
Congress reconvenes to the advisable
ity of installing a high water pres
sure fire protection system In the con-
gested section of Washington.
Urged by the Washington Board Of
Trade for at least 20 years and sup
ported by virtually all business and
civic organizations of the city, this
proposed project is one of the few
that has failed to become realiza-
ton.
Whether a high.pressure system is
advisable in view of it's estimated cost
of approximately $1,000. 600. is a ques-
ton now under investigation by a
special committee appointed recently
by the Commissioners. Congress pro-
vided in the appropriation act for the
current fiscal year an item of $4,000
for travelling and other expenses for
this committee.
Personnel Of Committee.
The committee is composed of
George S. Watson, chief engineer of
the District Fire Department; Daniel
E. Garges, secretary to the Board of
Commissioners, and George ~. Thomp-
son, secretary of the Building Code
Division of ths Department of COM
Inerce.
While the plans of the commit.
tee have not been definitely outlined,
1t is practically certain that investi-
eating trips viii be made to Balti-
more, New York, Chicago and other
large cities that afford high water
pressure fire protection to<their bust
ness districts. The committee will re-
port the results of its investigation
to the Commissioners.
Aside from reduced insurance rates,
the outstanding advantages of such a
system as proclaimed by its advocates
are:
Effective protection of life and
property in the business section, in
Guiding the preservation of national
and local official records which could
not be replaced.
Saving in Equipment.
Release from the congested district
of fire apparatus which would be
transferred to other sections.
Conservation Of filtered water Tor
sanitary USE.
Establishment of a high pressure
by the superintendent of the District
Water Department October 8, 1901,
and in the annual estimates OF the
Commissioners appropriations were
requested several times to install such
service.
The original plan provided. in brief.
for the laying of a separate system or
mains throughout the principal bust
ness area, connected with the Reno
Reservoir by means of a 36-inch trunk
line. Reno Reservoir has a mean ele-
walton Of AIS feet above tide level,
and the laying of this main would
give a static hydraulic head in the
business district OF 415 feet above tide.
Assuming a flow of 10000 gallons a
minute, there would be an actual
working pressure at the elevation Of
F. street between Seventh and Seven.
sure Of 167 pounds per square inch
teenth streets. Of $50 feet or g pres
at the special high-pressurS hydrants
which the plan had contemplated
should be installed In the business
district.
Territory IN Plan
The business district as outlined In
the original plan covered the territory
bounded by Sixth and Seventeenth
streets and street and Pennsylvania
avenue.
This plan proposed the use Of the
existing pumping plant at the Dis.
trict pumping station and would re
quire for its completion only the lay
ing Of the necessary mains and the
erection OF high-presslre fire hy-
drants. It's limitations are described
as the pressure, which could not be
increased; the limited capacities Of
the Reno Reservoir, 4,500, 900 gallons,
and of the pumps, 1000 gallons q
minute.
This means that with q fire calling
for 10 900 gallons Of water q minute,
and all the available pumps. working,
the Reno Reservoir would be depleted
at the rate Of 1000 gallons a minute
and would be enlptied In about 70
hours. The water would then be
drawn from the Brightwood Reser-
yoir, with q pressure reduced by 81
pounds q square inch, giving 95
pounds 8 square inch at the hydrant.
ON r street These conditions would
only obtain, however, In case Of q gen
eraI confederation.
This plan was later modified to iIl-
scIude the insta liafi0n Of an auxiliary
pumping station near the Tidal Reser
weir n Potomac Park Tor the pus'p pose