Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-17
PROPOSES 40 PCT.
WATER RATE RAISE
Fund Bill Increases Levy to
Meet $4,000, 900 Annual
Extension Plan.

An increase of approximately 20 per
cent in water rates, coupled with an in
crease from 50 to SO linear foot in
the assessment on water mains, is pro-
vided in a legislative provision written
into the Districts 1891 appropriation
bill reported today to the House. The
higher rates would become effective July
/, at the beginning of the new fiscal
year.
The new schedule will raise water
rates on the metered service from 1886
to 1915 a year for $500 cubic feet of
water and the unmetered fiat rate
service from $7O3 to $685.. For bust
ness places not required to install
meters under existing regulations fiat
40 per cent increase in present rates is
directed.
The higher rates. as we'll as the in
creased assessment on mains, were
recommended by the Commissioners
during the executive hearings on the
appropriation bill before the House sub
committee on appropriations, to raise
revenue to finance the proposed i've
year water improvement program. A
board of engineers from the United
States engineers Office for the District,
which has supervision over Washing
tons water supply system. and officials
of the water department worked out
the program, which contemplates the
expenditure of 100000 year for ex-
tensions and Improvements.
10000 TO Be Affected.
The increase of $3.50 in the domestic
70 Mi
5000 consumers. Only $4,000 will be
affected by the 1882 increase in the
fiat rate unmetered service. Estimates
prepared by the water engineers show
that the new rates will yield the Dis
trict an increase of 1858, 400 in revenue,
while the So linear foot assessment on
mains will produce $4,000 in added
revenue
In support of the increased rates,
the Commissioners submitted to the
committee a report showing that the
existing water charge in Washington is
81 per cent less than the average of
81 cities with populations ranging from
100000 to 100000 having municipal
water systems With the 40 per cent
increase, according to this report, the
District rates would then be "a per
cent less than the average of these 81
cities.
The Commissioners also submitted a
report showing that existing water main
assessment of So front foot has re-
turned in the last five years only 55.5
service extensions. The SO assessment,
1t was estimated, would return about
80 per cent of the cost of the mains.
Three Plans Considered.
Engineer Commissioner William B.
Ladue explained to the committee that
three plans for financing the improve
ments in the water system were con-
sidered before 1t was finally decided to
recommend an increase in rates. In
addition to higher rates, the two others
were a bond issue and drawing on the
general revenues of the District, which
would have placed the burden on the
taxpayers. Both of these were dis
carded, Col Ladue said-the bond issue
because it is not i'll accordance with
the plan under which the District is
| financed.
AFTER weighing these two alternatives
from various points of view." said Col
I,adue, 1--WE decided in favor of raising
the money out of water revenues
There are several reasons for that. In
! fine first place, it is the basic rule here
in washington, based on legislation that
ooes back to the SOS some time, that
the water revenues shall take care Of
the cost of maintenance and extension
of the distribution system.
"That rule has, however. been vio-
lated. In some cases the Fedora
Government has put up a large part
| of the cost of the extension, and, In
still other cases the water revenues
And do not know that there mas peer
any rule about It, at least l nave mo-
heen sblc to determine any rule, be-
care there seemed to be an incon
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