Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
WATER PLANT UNIT
:TRANSFER IS URGED
efficiency Bureau Would Put
i Supply Branch in D. C.
Control.
CONTINUED From First Page.)

was $1s,0S1 ,420.41, apportioned as fol-
lows: United States, $1,222,316.72; Dis
trtct Of Columbia. $955,473.15, and wa
ter department. SIS, ,630.51. For the
United States the report also sets forth
that before the supply system from
Great Falls was begun in 1853 the
Government had installed some spring
water mains. for which it made total
expenditure of 1928 62l.8l, both con-
struction and maintenance.
The Efficiency Bureau points out that
the financial statement includes all
capital expenditures, with no deductions
for obsolete or abandoned property.
Little Revenue Produced.
The report shows that only a little
more than half the water produced is
revenue bearing This is because the
private consumers are the only users
who pay for water. The remainder con-
sists of water used by the Federal and
District Governments and water unac-
counted for.
The consumption table used in the
report shows total water production for
1880 of 20 300 900, 900 gallons. of which
the quantity used and paid for by private
consumers Is given as l6,368,000,c00
gallons. In the bureaus report tie
Federal Government consumption is
placed at 3629 C00,090 gallons for tire
year; the District government, asst
600 1000, and water unaccounted for,
1857, 600, 900 gallons.
The water department report for
1880 places me Federal Consumption at
4293, l49 900 gallons, and the District
government at 1902 ,093, 900 gallons.
The Efficiency Bureau uses the same
figure for total water production as con-
tanned in the annual report of the water
department, but the distribution is some
what different as between different
users. For example, the bureau has
reduced the Federal consumption and
increased the District government fig
ureS by transferring from the list of
Federal consumers several activities Ie-
garded bv the bureau as non-Federal in
character. Again, the water depart
ment report estimates 558,294 600 gall
Ions a year allowable leakage in the
system. and $685., COL 900 gallons unac-
counted for. The efficiency table does
not contain a separate listing of al
lowable leakage, but has larger fig
ure for water unaccounted for.
District Pays Bills.
Since the year 1916 all of the annual
operating expenses of the entire system,
ply branch, have been met from the
revenue Of the District water depart
nnent. In addition, almost the entire
cost OF extensions to the distribution
system has come from the water rates
and the general revenues of the Dis
tr1ct. Two years ago water rates were
increased to finance a program of ex-
tensions and betterments.
The bureau contends in its report
That ~ faV
determined unit "a proper distribution
OF the COSTS made, as between con-
struction and maintenance, and a valu-
alton has been established for the sys-
tenn"
The bureau takes the view that a bet
ter plan Is needed to obtain a more
accurate accountability for the water
used. There IS included in the report
however. table showing the unit cost
OF water, based on expenditures for
maintenance. For 1880 this table
places the cost at S32.A2 per million gall
Ions, based on the total quantity of
water produced When based on the
limited amount Of water which is paid
Tor the cost becomes $59.27 per mil
Lon gallons sold. Commenting on the
ngures, the report adds:
Production Cost Estimated.
The cost per million gallons pro-
dueeo, ON a cash expenditure basis
without giving due consideration to de-
probation, Is little more than half the
Coet per million gallons computed on a
little more than half the total water
prcouceo is revenue bearing. The bal
ancc is water used without charge bv
the Federal and District Governments
and water which is unaccounted for"
Whne setting forth these facts. tie re-
portmakes nos suggestion of any change in
the practice that has been followed
since 1915 of taking all operating ex-
penseS OF the entire system out of the
revenues collected from private con-
sumers, who use only slightly more than
nall the water produced
In advancing its proposal for transfer
OF the supply facilities from the ARMY
engineer Once to the Jurisdiction of
the District Commissioners, the bureau
report states:
Management Shifted.
THE present dual system of OPERA
ton came into existence with the or
ganlzatlon OF the Water Department of
the District of Columbia, July /, 1882,
Prior to that time the entire water sys
tenn, both supply and distribution, was
constructed, operated and maintained
by the Corps of Engineers, U. S. A., and
all expenditures for the extension of the
water supply system were paid by the
Federal Government"
since that date however the Dis
trlct government has paid from general
revenues proportionate share of the
cost OF construction, and from water
revenues the entire cost of operating
and maintaining the distribution
system. Since 1916 the cost of oper-
atlng and maintaining the entire
system has been paid from water reve-
nues. In addition, almost the entire
cost OF extensions to the distribution
system, amounting to several millions
of dollars, has been paid from water
revenues and th- general funds of the
District Of Columbia.
There are several reasons WHY the
present dual control should be discon
tlnued and the water system of the
District of Columbia should be con-
sonoated into one organization under
the Commissioners.
City Service Prime Purpose.
The prime function of the water
system is to furnish a supply of filtered
water to the people of the District of
Columbia. At the time of its inception
the prime purpose Of the system was
TO furnish water for the Federal Gov
ernment's activities At that time the
District of Columbia was neither able
nor inclined to construct or maintain
such system SO it was deemed advisa-
BILE to place this duty under the Corps
of Engineers, U. S. A. That condition
no longer exists and the District of
Columbia is capable of assuming full
responsibility for the operation and
maintenance of the entire system. At
the present time the water system of
the District Of Columbia is elf-support-
ing, the entire cost of operations and
extensions being paid from water rev.
enues"
The bureau also argues that CONSOLE
dation Of water activities would "un-