Evening star., 1938-08-18
HALE-YEAR BILLS
URGED IN REQUEST
FOR WATER FUNDS
Budget Estimates Put Needs
at s1,932,570-Sewer
Unit Seeks $2,018,634.
PROJECTS TO REDUCE
POLLUTION INCLUDED
Proposed Lines Listed-Charge
Protests by Householders
Noted by Department.
BY DON S. WARREN.

ny DoAN w hANNEANs
District property owners should be
permitted to pay their w4ter bills
semi annually instead of annually,
the Water Department recommended
today in submitting to the District
Commissioners its 1910 budget esti-
mates, calling for appropriations to-
falling sl,932,57O.
The sum requested for the distri-
button system of the Water Depart
ment would be an increase of $34S,-
700, or more than 81 per cent over
this years appropriations. For the
supply division. the Commissioners
expect to receive requests amounting
roughly to the $607,350 provided for
this year.
Meanwhile, the Sewer Division
submitted estimates totaling $2,018,-
634, an 80 per cent increase over
this years appropriations. Part of
the increase would be spent for sew
er projects to prevent pollution of
streams tributary to the Potomac
River. An additional item of $780,
900 is sought for construction of Sec
ton of the interceptor sewer in
Oxon Run Valley NE. to minimize
pollution of the Anacostia River.
Extra Personnel Sought
A relatively small percentage of
increase sought for the water distri-
button division is asked for new
equipment and extra personnel need
ed to place into effect the proposed
semi-annual payment, quarterly
billing plan and modernization Of
the system of keeping water bill ac-
counts.
In this connection, D. w. Holton,
superintendent of the Water Depart
ment. said:
The present methods of reading
meters and computing water bills
have become so antiquated, together
with an enormous increase in pro-
tests against excessive bills, that we
cannot longer function properly"
The department asked $4,000 for
employment OF 10 extra meter read
ers, to make possible reading of all
meters quarterly. Nearly all meters
in private dwellings are now read
but once year. and bills are render
ed annually, for the most part, ex-
cept for the larger accounts, who re-
quest monthly bills.
A sum of $4,000 was asked for new
okivertY rho DO
partment contending the present
equipment was so "antiquated and
improvised" that it was not possible
to improve or speed up its operation.
While prompt rendering of bills now
was deemed impossible" it was
thought that the proposed new sys-
tenn would permit the reading. COM
putting and PREPARATION of water bills
within 80 days.
s45o,O00 Asked for New Mains.
The department requested appro-
priations OF $450.000 for laying new
water mains. OF this sum, 100000
was asked for laying $500 linear
feet of 48-inch water mains from the
Bryant Street Pumping Station to
the new high-service reservoir to be
erected in the grounds of the United
States Soldiers Home. A sum of
$250,000 was asked for construction
of 13,200 linear feet of "a and 36
inch mains from. Fourth street and
Florida avenue NE to the vicinity of
Kentucky avenue and East Capitol
street.
Most of the increase in appropria-
tions sought by the Sewer Depart
ment would be for 10 sewer develop
ments of various kinds, some of
them designed to reduce pollution
of streams in the District. For such
contract construction work this year
Congress allowed but $48,10O. For
next year a total of 1886, ,080 is asked.
The following items are included
in this list:
Klingle Valley enforcement sewer,
100000 to permit house lateral ad-
justments in the area westward
from the Geological Park to Wiscon-
sin avenue and from Van Ness street
southwark to Klingle road and the
Washington Cathedral. For the con-
struction of enforcement sewers in
the Klingle Valley area the P. w. A.
program contains $4,000, but to
prevent pollution Of Rock Greek from
this source lateral sewer lines from
200 houses will have to be laid.
Anac0stia Park Listed.
Good Hope road divorcement sewers,
for IS house lateral adjustments in
Anacostie= Park, midway between the
Pennsylvania Avenue Bridge and the