Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15
WATER PRESSURE
FAILURE BLAMED
ON "BOTTLENECK"
District Officials Question
Ability of DaIecarIia Plant
=. to Supply Needs.
MAJ. SOMERVELL HOLDS
DISTRIBUTION AT FAULT
24-Inch Main, Linking Two &c.
Inch Lines, Cuts Force of
Flow, Engineer Says.

PHEASANT, as well as partS OF northeast
Washington, that officials of the Water
Department have questioned the ability
Of the new Dalecarlia pumping station
to meet all the strains that may be ex-
pected to be placed upon it. The old
Bryant street station, It is asserted, had
to be placed in operation one day last
Summer to maintain adequate pressure.
The low pressure, 1t is asserted, can
be blamed on the failure at Dalecarlia
to keep an adequate water supply in the
second high distributing reservoir, when
consumption is excessive.
But at the United States District
engineers office, which controls the sup
ply system, including the Dalecarlia
plant. 1t is asserted that blame does not
rest with the supply system. but on the
distribution system, which is not model
ed on a scale to carry the additional
supply OF water made available by the
improvements to the supply system.
Explanation Of Low Pressure.
The low pressure. 1t is explained. was
due to q so-called "bottleneck" in vital
link of the city's distribution system.
which. 1t is said, eventually must be
removed.
Mai. Brehon B. somervell, who has
charge of the United States Engineers
ONCE, declared that the Dalecarlia sta
ton can consume and it has the capac-
ity to do so for some years to come
He Is of the opinion there would be no
loss in pressure anywhere along the
distribution system If it is remodeled to
carry the additional supply made avail
able by the new supply system. The
supply system, he pointed out, is eff
cient and doing its part ably in bringing
the water down from Great Falls, but
the distribution end should be improved
A striking example of need of i'm
provementS in the distribution system,
Maj. Somervell said, is the "bottleneck"
which consists Of a stretch of 24-inch
trunk main running from Thirteenth
and Kenyon streets south to Florida,
inch main. This 24-inch main is
link in the second high service area
trunk main.
Loses Head at Smaller Main.
b Water running from the second high
distributing reservoir, where 1t Is
pumped by the Dalecarlia pumping sta
ton. Maj Somervell explained, main
tains normal pressure until 1t reaches
Thirteenth and Kenyon streets, where
1t Is forced through the smaller 24-inch
main with q resulting decrease in head.
Points along the second high service
main from the beginning Of the bot
tleneck" therefore, do not get the
benefit Of the maximum pressure.
The effect Of the "bottleneck" was
not pronounced until the prolonged
heat wave In August, when water con-
sumption greatly increased and the
head became so weak In the second
high area of the Northeast section that
The Bryant street pumping station,
which had been on a reserve status
since the completion Of the new sup
ply system, went into service to supply
water to that territory.
Plants already are being made, how
ever, to eliminate the "bottieneck" Two
are under consideration One is to con-
tinue the 36-inch trunk main from
Thirteenth and Kenyon streets almost
directly across Kenyon street to the
northeast section. The second plan
which is looked upon most favorably
at the District Building is the installa-
ton Of new 36-inch trunk main which
will bypass the water to the south or
Mount Pleasant to the second high
area Of Northeast washington.
Differ Over Future Of Station.
The plan finally decided upon will be
incorporated in the five-year program
for the development of the water sys-
tenn a tentative outline of which was
drawn up recently and submitted to
Engineer Commissioner William B.
Ladue. It is estimated that either
project will cost more than 5000, 900.
Aside from the cause of the low pres
sure on the second high main, Maj.
Somervell and the water department
also differ over the future of the
Bryant street pumping station. This
station. incidentally. is under super
vision Of the water department, and its
officials think that because of its
strategic location near the heart of the
distribution system. 1t should be re-
conditioned and assume the pumping
on the second high area.
Maj. Somervell, however, contends
that the Dalecarlia station Is capable
Of pumping all water. but he Is firmly
of the opinoin that the Bryant street
station should be maintained on its
present basis as a reserve for emer-
gency use.
The Dalecarlia pumps are operated
by power generated by small hydro
electric plant at the station which uses
surplus water brought down to the
reservoir over the new water supply
system. It's operation is far more
economical, 1t was said, than the Bryant
street station, which uses coal for the
steam boilers which generate power for
its pumps.
Mai. M. C. Tyler, who was in charge
Of the United States Engineers Office
when the new supply system was de-
signed and constructed. estimated that
1 there would be sufficient surplus water
to furnish nearly 1900 horsepower for
the Dalecarlia pumps for number OF
years.
Developments Show wisdom.
It was originally planned to abandon
the Bryant street station. but when
Mai Somervell became the District
engineer he recommended its conG!ilu-
ance on . reserve basis. Developments
within the last yesr have shown the
wisdom OF maintaining 1fs plant. Four
times it was called upon to assist In
emergencies when breaks and leaks IN
trunks mains and valve changes would
have caused temporary suspension OF
the water service in certain sections.
The most serious situation was caused
by q break In the 45-inch trunk main
at Twenty-seventh and M streets, where
the new bridge across Rock Greek Is
under construction. The Bryant street
station responded in this emergency and
pumped water to the first high area
east of Rock Greek which covers
large portion. OF the downtown section.
Besides considering a program for
developing the distribution system. En-
Sifeer Commissioner Ladue Is studying
the recent annual report of the water
department. which showed that one
third Of the total water supply Of the
District Is wasted, and that nearly