Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-15
MENACE AND WASTE
IN NEW GAS SERVICE
CHARGED IN REPORT
Public Utilities Engineer.
Warns of Effects of
Boosted Pressure.
SAYS SYSTEMS GROWTH
NOT PROPERLY PLANNED
Violation of Regulations Alleged
in Survey Pointing Out made
quate ContrOl-Remedies Urged.

Charges that the Washington gas
companies have violated regulations OF
the Public Utilities Commission by in
creasing gas pressures which may result
in dangerous and ineficient appliances
because of improper adjustment, are
contained in a report submitted to the
commission by Bert H. Peck, its chief
engineer.
Mr.. Peck recommended thorough
check Of gas appliances and any adj
justments that may be necessary, a.
well as immediate improvements in
pressure conditions, which he, declared
has made gas service unsatisfactory.
Some Areas Suffer.
Prevailing high pressures, Mr.. Peck
declared, have generally been necessary
in order to prevent unduly low pressures
at points that have been overloaded by
the increase in the use Of gas for house
heating and other purposes. Even
under these conditions, he said, Wesley
Heights and adjacent territory have suf-
fered from low preSSureS which has de-
prtved consumers in this area of service
at certain hours of the day when
weather conditions are severe.
Mr.. PeckS report is based on an ex-
haustive city-wide survey Of the gas dig
tribution system, made in corporation
with engineers of the gas companies.
Improperly adjusted appliances, the
report points out, are both dangerous
and inefficient.
Ill Effects Listed.
The Ill effects which result from car
rying presSures at a point higher than
for which the appliances are adjusted
are listed as follows:
Il. Possibility of generating carbon
monoXide gas, which Is poisonous.
q. 1nef1ciency of gas consumption.
The extent Of this ineficiency depends
I. upon the individual attention to burner
operation. In general, 1t does MOI seem
unreasonable to assume that an In
crease of IS per cent in average pres
sures would increase consumption
throughout the city by 10000 to
200 900 cubic feet per day, or something
less than per cent"
The Ill effects which result from car
rying preSsures at point lower than
that for which appliances are adjusted
were enumerated as follows:
Il. Possibility of the flame becoming
extinguished with consequent escape OF
gas.
"2. Ineficiency of gas consumption.
With decrease Of IS per cent in aver
age preSsures it is probable that losses
due to inefficient burner operation
would be more than Offset by decrease
in pilot light consumption"
PressureS Found Unequal.
The engineers found that in q large
portion of the District pressureS ex-
coed the maximum limitation Of
inches, and that in other sections
the preSsures are unduly low, fan.
falling below the prescribed 2 inches.
This condition, it was explained, Is the
result 'of adding increased business. to
system of poor inherent design with
out the development CT plans to care
fcS expansion"
The survey" the report said, dis
closes that there are only three COM
paratively restricted areas in which the
commissions requirements are meeting
with compliance. These areas are ID
the district surrounding the Navy Yard
west to the War College, north to Gar
field Park and east to the Congressional
Cemetery: CD the district west Of
Georgetown College and bordering the
Potomac, which is served at high pres
sure with house governors and 90 the
Anacostia district east of Pennsylvania
avenue, which is similarly served at
high pressure.
ELSEWHERE preSSureS exceed the
maximum limitations of existing rules,
viz, the Wesley Heights and Spring
Valley districts, extending eastward to
Georgetown College In this latter ter
ritory the daily pressure variations are
also in excess Of commission regula-
tons, and, as elsewhere. the maximum
preSSureS are excessive"
Results Are Summarized.
Mr.. Peck summarized the results OF
the study as follows:
al. The gas companies are not COM
plying with commission requirements,
particularly as regards maximum pres
SureS.
80. To effect compliance with present
rules or with any satisfactory modifica-
ton will require additional transmission
main capacity and additional station
pumping capacity. 1t will also require
increased distribution capacity in some
sections of the city.
IS. 1t is urged that improvements be
Immediately undertaken. Unless this is
done, conditions next Winter will result
in more extended violations of COM
mission regulations, and further I'M
satisfactory service.
"a. A revision of commission pressure
requirements along the lines indicated
should result in more satisfactory sery-
ice to the consumer.
"5. Appliance adjustments probably
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