Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-05
DISTRICT SUPPLY |
OF: WATER IS GOOD
Potomac Can; Keep Up With
Needs Even if No Rain Falls
for Sixty More Days.

Despite the prolonged drought, cou-
pied with an Unprecedented consump-
ton of water, the Water Department
has no intention Of restricting the use
of. water In the District, 1t was feit-
Grated today by d. w. Holton, super
Reports from officials in charge Of
supply system, Mr.. Holton said, indicate
that in face. of the greatly increased
consumption the supply is adequate 70
meet ali demands and that the Potomac
can continue to furnish all the water
washington needs for so days more
should there be no rainfall In this
period.
with this assurance, Mr.. Holton de-
clared he saw no necessity ct this time
of urging conservation Of water, al
though he does not believe 1t should be
deliberately wasted.
River Abnormally Low.
While the supply is sufficient, 1t was
said at the. Dalecarlia Reservoir, that
the river at Great Falls is abnormany
low, but water is coming over the dam
at the rate of / 600 cubic feet second,
which Is greatly in excess OF the con-
sumption. The lowest flow rate ever
recorded over the dam was 700 cubic
feet a Second, back in 1914.
Some idea Of the effect the drought
and heat wave have had on water con-
Sumption is graphically pictured on a
chart which Mr.. Holton keeps in his
office showing the amount of water used
every 24-hour period. Not since July Is
has the total consumption in any a.
hour period been less than 10000. 600
gallons, and only three times since July
% has 1t been less than 100, 000, 900 gal
Ions. The average has lowered closely
to 100,000.000 gallons day, whereas
last year the average for May. June,
July, August and September, when con-
sumption was highest, was 84,000,0OO
gallons a day.
The peak consumption, however. was
recorded for the 24-ilour period ending
at 8 am. July IA, when 1l4,000. 900 gal
Ions were used. The closest approach
to this figure was recorded for the "a
hour period ending at 8 o'clock this
morning. The consumption in this pc
Rod was slightly in excess of O9,O00,OOO
gallons.
Pressure Is Reduced.
Twenty-one days, with consumption
in excess of 100000 gallons day.
Mr.. Holton pointed out, constitutes the
longest period of peak consumption In
the history OF the Water Department.
These consumption figures, he ex-
planned, do not include water delivered
to Arlington County, Va. and nearby
points in Maryland served by the
MARYLAND Sanitary Suburban Commits
sion. MARYLAND alone is drawing an
average of ], $50, 900 gallons day from
three points in the Districts distribu-
ton system-Chevy Chase, Georgia
avenue at the District line and Rhode
Island avenue northeast at the District
line.
pressure has been reduced at several
points In the distribution system, which
has necessitated the operation OF the
auxiliary Bryant street pumping sta
ton, particularly in the early evening
when the use of water Is at its height.
The pumps have been working on both
the second and third high service areas.
The second service area includes Brook
land. woodbridge and other points in
the Northeast section. Mount Pleasant
and Columbia Heights and contiguous
sections are on the third service area.
Mr.. Holton said the low pressure IN
the fourth high-service area, in the
vicinity Of Massachusetts, and Wisconsin
avenues, during periods of peak con-
sumption. has virtually been eliminated
by the installation of a new 20-inch
main In Wisconsin avenue and Belt
road. The loss in head, he explained,
was caused by q 12-inch MAN.. Now
the fourth high area Is being served by
both the 12-ineh main and the new 20
inch main. A fire engine has been used
to keep up pressure In the fourth high
area when 1t showed tendency to drop.