Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-19
DROUGHT RELIEF
PROMISED BY MAIN
CONNECTION TO DC.
Immediate Construction at
Chevy Chase Circle De-
cided by Commission.
RAIN ONLY CAN SAVE
DRASTIC SERVICE CUT
Prince Georges and Montgomery
May Be Limited Drastically
in IL Days.

Slight relief of nearby Maryland's
water shortage was in sight today, but
rain remained the only factor which
can do more than delay imminent dras-
tic curtailment of consumption.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission, which serves the $4,000
residents of this area with water, au-
thorized Yesterday the immediate con-
struction at Chevy Chase Circle of a
connection between its mains and the
District OF Columbia water system
Robert B. Morse. chief engineer of the
commission, said today the work of
laying the connection will begin early
Monday morning and that the District
should begin pumping water into the
Maryland mains at this point by We'd
Eesday night.
Daily Allowance Limited.
Because of its location in the fourth
high service area of the District. where
pressure is at its lowest, but half a
million gallons of water can be spared
daily to Maryland at this point, Mr..
Morse said he was informed.
This amount added to the million
gallons per day the commission is TAX
ing through the connection between
the two systems on Rhode Island ave-
nue. at the Maryland State line, will put
off for only two or three days the ex
haustion of the supply in the Sanitary
Commissions reservoir at Burnt Mills
1t is estimated that if the new con-
nection is put in use Wednesday night
the cutting in half of the water con-
sumption III the sections of Montgom
cry and Prince Georges Counties adj
jacent to Washington must take place
not later than IL days from today and
probably sooner.
: At that time there will be no more
water in the reservoir and the supply
for the two counties must be pumped
directly from the Northwestern Branch
and from the Districts mains.
Public Appeal Formulated.
The Sanitary Commission formulated
an appeal at a meeting yesterday, to
the people it serves to use extreme
care in conserving water. 1t pointed
out that the principal waste is by
sprinkling lawns and that thiS should
be discontinued until the present short
age in past.
Letters to all fire departments in the
area, requesting them to refrain from
using water in their practices, were
sent out yesterday.
Meanwhile the supply of water Ain
the Burnt Mills reservoir sank nearly
a foot yesterday, while the flow in the
Northwestern Branch, which feeds the
reservoir, continued to dwindle
The statement issued by j. Darby
Bowman, secretary to the commission,
for the sanitary body. indicated that
the flow of water in the Northwestern
Branch is but one-eighth normal-the
lowest for seven years.
Use May Be Curbed.
Mr. Bowman pointed out that $780,
900 gallons of water are being consumed
every day, while the average consump-
ton is 100000 Unless this high
figure is cut shortly, he declared, the
commission will promulgate drastic
regulations concerning the use of water.
Mr. Morse said he would apply at
the District Building sometime today
for permit to tear up the street for
the laying of the second connection,
which will be at Western avenue and
Runnymede street.
The work will be done at the COM
missions expense and all that will be
required of the District, he said, will
be to have an engineer of the Water
Department present as an inspector.
The distance between the two mains
is 80 feet.