Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-13
Hunt Method of improving
System Without Rate
Increase.
LARGER CONSUMERS
MAY BE CHARGED MORE
Another Proposal Would Bring in
Revenue From Supply Used
by Municipality.

The District Water Department today
began struggling with problem of how
to finance the five-year program for
improving the water distribution syS-
tenn without increasing water rates.
Careful estimating has revealed that
the department cannot carry out the
program on its present income from the
sale of water without mourning a de-
cided deficit. In fact, some calculations
have shown that the department Will
run into the red in the first year.
Two Proposals Are Studied.
Two proposals are under consideration
for increasing the revenues without dis
turbing the present basic domestic rate
Of $685. for a minimum Of $500 gall
Ions. One is to lower the minimum
consumption to $4,000 gallons, which
would have the effect of raising the
bills Of large consumers who would be
charged for the amount used in excess
of this quantity. The other Is designed
to produce revenue on large portion OF
the water for which the District now
receives no return, exclusive of the
enormous amount, estimated, at one-third
Of the total supply, which Is wasted or
unaccounted for every year.
The plan to reduce the minimum
consumption from $4,000 to $4,000 gal
Ions, 1t was pointed out, would not az
feet the bills Of the smaller consumer,
since 29, 48O, or 40 per cent OF the total
Of 1878, do not now use more than
81 500 gallons a year, although entitled
TO $1,000 gallons for the $685. rate. The
remaining go per cent now Is paying
oh from
per cent progressively. 1t would be this
group which would bear the burden OF
the increase.
District May Have TO Pay.
The municipal government would be
the principal victim under the plan to
raise income on water which does not
now yield any revenue. The proposal
Is that the District pay for all the
water it uses, which is estimated at %
per cent of the total consumption. 1t
is not planned, however, to require the
Federal Government to pay for the
water it consumes on the ground that
it has q substantial equity in the water
system. For its equity in the system,
the District would be given lower
rate than the prevailing domestic rate.
The Water Department and Capt.
Hugh Dram, assistant engineer COM
missioner, who also is studying various
schemes for financing the f1ve-year pro-
gram, do not propose to make any DEF
mite recommendations, however, pend
ing a survey of water systems in other
cities comparable in size to Washington.
Questionnaires already have been sent
to 81 of these cities, which have munich
pally owned water plants, seeking data
as to rates and how they are deter
mined and any other information relat-
ing to operation.
u. 8. Bureau Refused Proposal.
Anticipating a deficit in the water
fund as O. result of the five-year i'm
provement program, the Commissioners
urged the Budget Bureau while the
1881 estimates were under considera-
ton to approve scheme to have the
improvements financed out of the gen.
eral revenues instead of the water fund,
Such q plan, it was believed, would
have averted a deficit or probable in
crease in water rates, but the Budget
Bureau refused to approve it.