Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-17
OFFICIALS CONSIDER 1O-YEAR
PLAN FOR WATER EXTENSION
Study Is Made of Meters to Determine
Consumption of Supply for Which
No Account Is Now Kept.

Plans for extending the proposed i've
year water development program to
cover q period Of 10 years were dis
cussed at q conference today between
officials In charge Of Washington's sup
ply and distributions systems.
The phenomenal growth Of the Dis
trict and the likelihood Of a continued
out. indicates the necessity of prepar-
ing for additions in both the supply and
distributions systems farther into the
future than five years.
The conference was attended by Mai
Brehon B. Somervell, United States en-
gineer for the District, who has super
vision over the water supply system;
Engineer Commissioner William B,
Ladue and Capt. Hugh Dram, Assistant
Engineer Commissioner, who are directly
In charge Of the distribution system.
Program Already Fixed.
A tentative five-year program already
worked out contemplateS chiefly i'm
provements in the distribution system,
but the proposed 10-year program, 1t
was said, also will involve probable ad-
ditions and extensions to the supply
system.
Engineer Commissioner Ladue ex-
planned that the present supply system
is more than adequate; that it can fur
nish for years to come all the water
washington can possibly consume, but
with the use Of water increasing yearly,
1t may be necessary to provide addi-
tional distributing reservoirs and in
creased pumping facilities as well as an
extension of the distribution system.
The 10-year program, Col Ladue en-
phaSized, will be worked out by District
oficials in coordination with Maj.
Somervell and engineers connected with
his office so the Improvements in both
the supply and distribution systems can
be carried out as a unit. Col. Ladue
also explained that the program will
be elastic to permit revisions that may
be found necessary from year to year.
After returning from the conference
capt. Dram resumed his study of con-
dit1ons in the Water Department cited
in its recent annual report, giving spe-
c1al consideration to the large quantity
OF unaccounted-for water, which was
estimated at 80 per cent of the total
supply. and the condition of the water
TO be registering naccurately or out of
working order.
Capt. Dram conferred with D. w.
Holton, acting superintendent Of the
water Department., and Maj. Edward
II. Grove, District water registrar, both
Of whom gave him a detailed explana-
ton of the cause of the conditions
which he was instructed to study by
Col. Ladue.
Meters CIoeged.
Holton told Capt. Dram that while
nearly $4,000 meters are not function
ing correctly, the majority Of them are
not mechanically defective as has been
claimed, but are clogged with dirt and
other debris, which found its way
through the liberation reservoirs, and
disabled the disc which records the con-
sumption. These meters can be put
into proper operating condition by
cleaning, he said, and this work Is
going on regularly.
The conference also developed the fact
that inspections are made twice an
nually of all water meters, and that
those found to be dirty and registering
inaccurately are removed from the
ground and cleaned. The fact that
nearly $1,000 meters are not functioning
properly, it was explained, Is due to an
accumulation over a period of years Of
meters that the Water Department has
not been able to repair or clean because
Of the lack of funds.
Knew Situation.
Holton told Capt. Dram that the wa
ter department has not been ignorant"
OF the meter situation, but foresaw some
years ago the condition which now ex-
lists and included in its financial esti-
mates items for increased appropria-
tons for the purchase of new meters as