Evening star., 1949-10-07
Loans 70 Expand
Water Facilities
Asked in Budget
D. c. Urged to Drop
Poy-os-You-Go Plan;
S7,973, 900 Sought

during the fiscal year 1851.
An alternate estimate for new
construction on the Washington
acqueduct. with available funds
only, would scale the budget re-
quest down to $6,113,000.
The Commissioners were in
formed, however, that the pay-as-
you-go program cannot cope in
any way" with the unprecedented
heights to which water consump-
ton here is rising.
It is estimated that by 1851
average daily water consumption
in millions of gallons will have
increased from 154.68 in 1916 to
1850.
S5,576,O04 for Sewers.
Also made public today was q
request for $5.576,004 to operate
: the Sewer Department during the
year beginning next July Ian
increase Of $2,249,814 over the
amount appropriated for this year
The Sewer Department esti.
mates for 1851 include $4,080,00
for permanent improvements.
In submitting a 'cbroad-gauge'
plan along with a budget estimate
based on funds available from year
to year, water officials pointed out
the high demand has required
operation of all water supply ia.
cilities at about maximum ca
pacity.
Money available in the water
fund after operating expenses are
taken care of is not sufficient tt
provide improvements at the rate
necessary to meet the rising de.
mands, they pointed out.
There must be found ways and
means to finance a more substan.
tial annual improvement program
for water supply facilities ir
amounts of 100000 to $4,000, ,00(
q year. if the present adverse sit
uation is to be adequately
remedied," the city heads were
informed.
Projects Outlined.
Borrowing money and spending
$2,910,000 for improvements to the
aoueduct, water officials propose
to provide for the following:
Begin construction of a new
Dalecarlia pumping station and
connecting pipe lines, $1,000, 900;
start building clear water basin
and connecting conduits, $1,000,-
900; begin a new chemical build
ing and operating center at the
Mcmillan plant, 100000; deepen
the Little Falls drainage channel,
100000, and make miscellaneous
improvements, S350,000.
Spending only s1,050,000 in
available money would permit
s65o.OO for beginning the Dale
carlia station; 100000 for deepen
ing the Little Falls channel. and
s340, ,00o for miscellaneous work.
In recommending the borrowing
plan, water officials pointed out
the water system is self-support-
ing (from water rents), its revenue
is assured and the annual amount
is ascertainable.
"Under these circumstances,
there should be no difficulty in
readily making financial arrange
ments for the required funds to
prosecute it's expansion, and there
is no apparent reason why this
should not be DONE" they said.
More for Operating Expense.
A total of $1,627,O00 was asked
for operating expenses Of the
aqueduct during 1851, or $145,00o
more than this years appropria-
ton. Water production for the
District is the responsibility OF
the Army engineers, with the city
paying the bills.
AS for the distribution of water
handled by the District Water De-
partment, a total Of $2,253,000 is
asked for operating expenses
$202, 900 more than the appropri-
alton for this year, and $1,183 ,00C
is requested for construction.
Water Supt. David v. Aule
wants $150,o00 for continuing tht
s450,000 expansion of the Ana
costa Pumping Station, 100000
for completion of rehabilitation o1
the Bryant Street Pumping Sta
ton, and $383,000 in additional
funds for trunk and service water
mains.
Mr.. Auld asked four new jobs
for his department. and the Army
Engineers want seven more mex
year for operation of the aqueduct
The Sewer Department is re.
questing $1,080,000 for work or
the Sewage Treatment Plant al
Blue Plains, including $1,000,00(
for beginning construction or
sludge drying and sewage
chlorination facilities.
Profit From Sludge.
Studies indicate the most favor
able solution to the sludge dis
posal problem requires heat dry
ing of the sludge for conversion
to fertilizer, the Commissioners
were told. 1t was estimated that
such sale of sludge would give
the District a $45,000 profit.
The department wants 1894 1850
for storm water sewer construc-
ton, and 100000 for relief
sewers.
1t was explained that practical
1y all the old city south of Florida
avenue, north and west of the
Anacostia and Potomac Rivers
including Georgetown, together
with the Piney Branch area, ex-
tending north to the District line
just east of Georgia avenue, and
a limited area south Of the Ana
costa are served with sewers that
carry both sanitary and storm
water.
For the most part, the main
sewers serving these areas and