Evening star., 1939-01-20
U. 5. Pay for Wafer .
Sought 10 Avert Hike
In Price 10 Public
Extensive Engagements
In System Would Require
22R Boost in Rotes

22% Boost in Rotes
Hoping to avoid a startling in
-. crease In District water rates, other
wise needed to pay the cost of
extensive enlargement of the water
system, the Commissioners today
asked Congress to require the Fed
eral Government to pay for the great
quantities 1t now uses free of charge
end to consider a Federal loan for
financing Of necessary improve
ments.
These requests were made by the
commissioners as they formally
transmitted to Congress the report
of special board of survey on the
Dlstrict water system, completed
some months ago, showing that the
district could not meet necessary
major improvements on the present
Financial basis without % per cent
increase in water rents or without a
requirement that the United States
pay for water it now gets free. De-
tails Of the situation as found by
.the survey board were outlined in
The Star in an exclusive story last
august.
The District Commissioners con-
eurred in the findings of the board
eof experts, which was headed by
chairman Riley E. Elgen of the Dis
trict Public Utilities Commission,
which made the first public utilities
- appraisal OF the District water sys-
tenn.
100000 900 Needed.
The Commissioners advised Con-
Eress that extension and improve
ments to the water system, aside
from normal expansion, would re-
Auire an outlay of more than $10,-
100000 before 1850. Data contained
In the survey report showed that
p5-year expansion program proposed
costs totaling some $28,O00,0OO.
The same report showed that
hearty % per cent of the total water
supply of the District was consumed
6ree Of charge by governmental
agencies, charitable institutions and
other non-revenue accounts The
United States was found to be the
biggest free user of water. taking
nearly 18 per cent of the total water
consumption, without charge. The
District government was found to
nse more than per cent of the
total.
In their letter to the president of
the Senate, Vice President Garner,
The Commissioners said, in concur
ring with findings of the special
board
The Commissioners are of the
opinion that it is neither equitable
desirable nor necessary to require
present rate paying water users,
Through increased water rates, to
build up sufficient surplus of
revenue in short period to finance
the major additions to the water
system estimated as necessary for
completion not later than 1850 and
estimated to cost more than S10,-
100000.
Government Doesn't Share Burden.
although the Federal Govern
ment has in the past invested some
funds in water facilities, it has not,
within recent years, shared in the
Capital cost of the system, nor has
1t shared in the operating cost. 1t
has continued to enjoy unrestricted
ilse of water without charge Dur
tng the fiscal year just ended, Fed
eral establishments used more than
$40 900, 900 cubic feet of water which,
at the rate currently charged larger
consumers. represents potential
revenue of approximately S450,0o0.
The Commissioners believe that
the Federal Government should re-
imburse the water fund for water
used at the established meter rate,
possibly with preferential discount
of about 10 per cent. With such
additional revenue, funds sufficient
to meet large part of the cost of the
next major expansion can be pro-
yided. In any event, funds neces-
sary for this expansion in excess of
those accumulated at the time re-
Quired should be met by a Federal
loan similar to the Public Works
Administration loans, which of
course, would have to be specifically
authorized at the proper time. Un-
der the above conditions, it would
appear that the necessity of increase
in rates at this time would be OBJ
waited"
Major Improvements Listed.
The Survey Board listed among
major improvements for the supply
system, to meet future water con-
sumption demands. new conduit
from Great Falls. new filter plant
at Dalecarlia, new pumping station
at Dalecarlia and transmission mains
which, with engineering and other
costs, would run the cost total to
some $13, 100000
Several new reservoirs. huge water
mains and long list of other major
extensions of the distribution sys-
TEN, which the Survey Board esti-
mated would be needed, by the year
1858, had calculated cost of some
J $14.800000. 1t was said that these
items would be in addition to the
normally increasing costs of the dis
tribution system for the mainte-
nance and operation and ordinary
requirements and betterments OF
the existing plant.
y The Survey Board found that the
United States had contributed
roughly "a per cent of the sums in
vested in the water system since its
operation was started back in 1859
that the District government had
paid more than 80 per cent in ap-
preparations from its general tax
revenues and that paying customers
had contributed more than a pc,
cent In charges.