Evening star., 1932-10-07
TEN WATER SUPPLY
BIDS UNDER STUDY
Program Designed to Step Up
Emergency Reserve
Launched.

A program designed to make Wash
ingtons three-day emergency water
supply last more than five days was set
in motion yesterday by Maj. Joseph D.
Arthur, jr district engineer for the
War Department for the Washington
area, who has charge of bringing the
water supply system to TIN National
Capital from the Upper Potomac River
at Great Falls. Maj Arthur and his
associates are digesting the 10 bids
opened Wednesday afternoon to sup
ply four booster pumps to step up the
city's water supply Next week Maj.
Arthur exects to transmit his recon-
mendations for the awarding OF con-
tracts to Mai Gen. Lytle Brown. chief
Of Army Engineers, and to Secretary
Hurley.
The 10 bids being studied by Maj
Arthur and his colleagues are: Byron
jackson CO. of Berkeley. Calf, $751;,
648; Baldwin Southwark Corporation,
Philadelphia. Pa. s49,500; Worthington
Pump & Machinery Corporation, New
York City, presenting alternate bids
for different types of equipment, rang
ing from $63 ,461 to S64.750; Fairbanks
Morse & Co., Baltimore, $4,000, with
en- alternative bid for additional equip
nent adding sl,875; Aldrich Pump Co,
Allentown, Pa. $4,000; Foster, Whee-
Ter Corporation, New York City, $685.
GEO; De Laval Steam Turbine Co.
Trenton, N. j., S54850; S. Morgan
Smith Co., York, Pa, S40,30O; Frank
j. Eisinger, Brooklyn, N. Y, 79,257,
and Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co.,
Milwaukee, Wis, S64 1900, with an alter
native for different equipment. $4,000.
Maj Arthur told The Star that these
bids will be compared not only on the
basis of cost, but also on the \baSis of
relative efficiencies. The examination
OF the different types of equipment
suggested by the contractors is eX-
pected to be completed early next week.
so that the major may indicate to his
superiors the successful bidder or
bidders.
Pumps Specially Designed.
The pumps for increasing Washing
tons water supply have been specially
designed along lines indicated by the
Federal Government. After the sue
cessful bidder or bidders have sub
1nitted their final designs. the United
States Engineer Office will proceed to
draw plans for a structure to house
these four pumps, and this pumping
Plant will be placed in the middle of
Al UdUl W De UullI dL Illc OdIcldl Id
Reservoir, on Conduit road near the
District Line.
Maj. Arthur asserted that about the
central portion of the reservoir at Dale
Carlia Dam will be constructed. The
pumping station will be erected on top
of this to lift the water out of the
Conduits, 7 feet over the dam. into the
high level part Of the reservoir. Dale
carlia Reservoir will thus become a
two-level lake. the lower level being
adjacent to the mouth of the conduits.
Due to the low level of water at the
Washington end of the conduits, Maj.
Arthur explained, the water will be
permitted to flow down more freely
through the great tubes. Not only this,
he said, but the new program will per-
init the conduits to bring down each
day an additional amount of water to
be used in generating electricity SO the
filtered water can be sent to the vari
GUS reservoirs throughout the city.
It is expected. he asserted, that in
addition to the safety factor involved a
/ saving approximating $4,000 annually
in the cost of pumping water will be
obtained. Under the new system the
Federal Government will have to buy
less power than at present to pump the
water to the reservoirs in strategic parts
of the National Capital.
Plant to Double Supply.
The Federal Government brings down
q the city's water supply through the
conduits from the Potomac River at
Great Falls and distributes it to the
reservoirs throughout the municipality.
Thence the District of Columbia gov
ernment distributes the water to the
various householderS.
Three of the new booster pumps are
to have capacity of $4,000 gallons per
minute each. while the fourth pump is
being prepared to produce $4,000 gallons
per minute.
Now the three-day water supply to-
tails 268,00o,000 gallons. With the new
plant available, Washington's emer-
gency water supply will be 469, 100000
gallons-nearly double. The major
said that Washington is now using
about 9oO0OO gallons of water day,
and the maximum during the hot
weather of the past Summer was 49,
100000 gallons daily.