Evening star., 1942-03-30
Water System Study
May Bring Saving
Writer ExpIoins How Citizens
Now Poy for Service Supplied
To Federal Government
BIZ John w. THOMPSON


The forthcoming survey of the District
water system by the Senate District
Committee can be q real service to the
community If 1t goes thoroughly into
the question Of the basis for water rates
and the complex problems of jurisdic-
ton and free Federal consumption Of
water.
The District water system Is BIZ
partite. Supply Is under the United
States Army Engineer Corps and is
known as the Washington Aqueduct.
Distribution is handled by the District
Water Department under the Commits
sioners. The entire system, with the ex-
ception of = few salaries OF Army engi-
neers directing the aqueduct and per-
haps few civilian employees Of the War
Department, is paid by the water rents
Of Washington private consumers. This
includes, incidentally. the expenses of
guarding the aqueduct during the war.
Consumers pay q basic minimum rate
which has been effective for years. OF
$s.75 for $500 cubic feet of water.
Originally the Federal Government
built and operated the city water sys-
TEN, permitting private users to tap the
mains. Gradually the distribution sys-
tenn and later the expense Of operating
the supply system were shifted to the
District, with funds for expansion as
well as maintenance coming from water
taxes-or water rents.
While there is no complaint against
the way in which the aqueduct has been
run by the Army engineers, which have
included such outstanding officers as 1t.
Gen. Brehon Somervell, the setup is,
to say the least, peculiar. The Commits
sioners have control of the aqueduct
budget along with the estimates OF their
own Water Department. But the plan
ming and operation are by the Army. In
this way. neither is wholly master.
The Federal Government, having ini-
tiated the building of the water plant
and contributed to its early development,
now pays nothing and gets its water free.
In the fiscal year 1899 a total Of $780,
7,l30 gallons was consumed by the
Federal establishment. At rates charged
District consumers, this is worth $685.
| 1oO.OO. Al Vic RuoL uoCal year ll1C
was about $3.50, 900 900 gallons or prob
ably something more than $450, 900 worth
| Of water
There are some who contend that this
water is the free dividend of the United
States on its original investment in the
water system. This is the same line of
reasoning by which the Government,
ho -
Gently claimed q $2,5O0, 900 equity in the
| District Building because it was built
| during the period in which the National
Government shared the city expenses on
4 $3.50 basis.
| As q matter OF fact, any audit Of the
equities in the water system accumu-
| lated over years shows the District as
the chief investor, many of the National
Governments installations ohaving be-
| come obsolete. Water consumers are en-
titled to q return on the District invest
ment in the form of cheap water.
The Senate committee may well inves-
tigate whether or not, after the war, op-
Grafton Of the water supply should not
be turned over to the Commissioners.
Because Of the military importance Of
water during the war, 1t is unlikely and
probably undesirable to change owner
ship now But the old Bureau Of En-
cheney recommended the change back in
1881 after an exhaustive study.
The transfer question also could settle
| whether the United States should con-
tinue to receive free water as q benef1t
from its original water system invest
ment or whether it should not join with
the District in contributing to the capital
outlays necessary for future water plant
expansion.
During the past year the flood tide OF
war population which has swept over the
Capital has greatly increased the ex-
penses Of the Water Department. BY the
end Of the fiscal year 1943 its reserve
fund, set aside each year against the
time when the supply might have to be
expanded, probably will be gone. Authori-
zation for the sale of the Treasury bonds
In which the reserve is invested is asked
In the 1943 budget estimates now before
Congress. The department must have
enough money to meet the demand.
There can be no argument about this.
The only present source Of revenue to
the department is the water rents, once
the reserve is exhausted No one wants
to see the cost of water 60 up. least Of
all the Water Department. But unless
some financing plan is adopted, there
would be no alternative to increased
rates.
Under the present split jurisdiction.
however, with the free water service to
the United States and the increased pri-
vate demand attributable to the fact that
this is the Capital Of a Nation at war.
a national obligation to help meet the
burden is easily established. It also has
been partially recognized in the alloca-
tions to the District under the first Lam
ham Act to relieve communities in which
facilities were strained by war popula-
| tion influx. A few filters and pumps for
the water supply system are provided in
these allocations Whether further Fed
eral participation is not equitable might
be studied by the Senate committee as
an alternative to increased rates.
In the last analysis water, like air. is
an essential to mans existence and, like
air, it should be as nearly free as pos
sible. 1t is even more of q public utility
than gas or electricity or transportation.
Yet none of these other utilities would
be permitted to raise their rates to cover