Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-13
D. c. WATER SYSTEM.
CHANGE IS URGED.
Survey Group Feels Federal
Rate Determination I'M
mediate Need.

Declaring that it is time to face the
issue and determine what the Fed
eral Government should pay for the
water it uses, and just what rates
should be charged the residents of the
District" the water supply committee
of the Washington Board of Trade
yesterday appointed a committee to
devise a plan for abolishing the present
system and formulating a new one for
recommendation to District officials and
Congress.
The present system was condemned
as ''unbusinesslike and intolerable."
Committee Makes Survey.
The task of devising a new system
was placed in the hands of a COM
mittee consisting of Rufus S. Lusk,
Frank Van SAINT and M. K. Wilberding.
In a general survey of the water situ-
alton here Mr.. Wilberding reported to
the committee as follows:
THE present book value of the water
supply plant and distribution system Of
the District of Columbia is $34, 472,-
247.76. OF this amount $10,931 ,923.97,
or 80 per cent, has been contributed by
the Federal Government; $9,082 ,346.63,
or 26 per cent, has been contributed by
the District of Columbia out of its
general tax fund; the remaining $14.-
Asst ,977.26, or AZ per cent, has been
taken from the earnings Of the water
plant.
THE Water Department now wishes
to embark upon program of improve
mentS and extensions. The appropria-
tons necessary for these improvements
and betterments, and for the regular
operation of the plant, have reached the
point where they are in excess of the
revenue An old law calls for all i'm
provementS and bettermentS-that Is,
capital expenditures-to be made from
the earnings of the water plant. These
earnings come entirely from the resi-
dents of the District of Columbia and
the Federal Government pays nothing
for its water supply nor do either the
citizens of the District or the Federal
Government pay for fire protection.
THE Federal Government claims that
it is entitled to free water (it uses about
1872 per cent of the total supply on
account of its investment of $l0,931,
92397, or 80 per cent of the total in
vestment, and in like manner the
citizens of the District of Columbia can
readily claim that they are entitled to
low rates because they have given
So, o82, 346.53, or 26 per cent of the total,
out of the taxes which they have paid
and Sl4,457 ,97726, or AZ per cent, from
water rents which they have paid.
"As the water property increases In
size and the number of customers
grows greater, it will be increasingly
difficult to supply funds for capital eX-
penditures from earnings unless the
water rate is constantly increased.
thine to Face Issue"
"It is time to face the issue and
determine what the Federal Govern
ment should pay for the water it uses
and just what rate should be charged
the residents of the District.
I'VE urge that the present rates be
considered as only temporary and that
steps be taken to determine a COM
prehensive and rational tariff along
with a method of obtaining the new
capital which can be applied to the
future needs, no matter what they
are And further, that some thought
be given to the unification of the man
age0ent of the whole system"