Evening star., 1953-09-13
ID. {. Water
Budget Need
Less Than 81
Lower Capitol OutIoy
Drops Figure Despite
Some Higher Costs
By John w. Stepp

mates of the District Sanitary
Engineering Department and
the Washington Aqueduct for
fiscal 1855 total less, by $281 ,456.
than the overall $23.705.391 ap-
propriated for those operations
in 1854.
These are the first Of the de-
partmental estimates released
to date that call for lower ap-
preparations next year. In all
probability. they will be the only
ones Of this nature.
The answer is to be found in
the capital outlay situation.
The long-ra building pro-
gram Of the Aqueduct. which
supplies the city water under
Army Engineer supervision but
with District funds, is so set up
that only two financially big
items are slated for construc-
ton in fiscal 1855. They are ad-
ditional filter and chemical
buildings at Dalecarlia. and con-
tinued work on the Little Falls
dam. pumping station and wa
ter tunnel.
One MultimilliOn Job.
Sanitary Engineering. the
agency that distributes the
water supply and handles sani-
tation and sewers, has scheduled
but one multimillion dollar
project-continued development
of the city sewage treatment
plant.
Operating costs, on the other
hand, are higher. Aqueduct calls
for $127, 900 more than was pro-
vided for fiscal 1854; Sanitary
Engineering, $320,544 more.
Biggest items on the Aqueduct
list are:
100000 for plans and 50 mil
lion to begin construction on
an additional chemical building
and IA filter structures. The
project is called an urgent nee
esSity" due to increased demand
fol water.
Ultimate goal is IL more filter
buildings to raise the plant total
to 26. thus providing more than
double the present capacity for
raw water treatment. The En-
gineers hope to finish the entire
program by mid-1958.
SIS million for further plans,
equipment and construction for
the Little Falls dam-pumping-
tunnel job that will increase the
raw water flow from the Potomac
River to the Dalecarlia treatment
plant. If Congress- approves this
request, another $1.4 million will
be needed in fiscal 1856 to COM
-plete the project by mid-l957.
$4,000 For Surveys.
In addition, a $4,000 request
is made for Typographical sur
veys and test borings in connec-
ton with the proposed seven
mile 78-inch diameter purified
water main from Dalecarlia to
the city distribution system at a
point near First and N streets
IN W.; and $4,000 to continue a
program of checking and install
ing instruments to meter Federal
Government water consumption
which has been considerably
greater than the Government
pays for.
The Aqueduct's higher opera
tional expenses are due largely
to mandatory pay raises and the
need for more chemicals and
equipment to meet increased de-
mand for water.
To distribute an anticipated SO
billion gallons of water in fiscal
1855, the city water division
asks $4,000 for new trunk lines
and to install automatic meter
ing devices about the system that
will record water flow velocities
and pressure.
$4,000 For Drawings.
Also sought is $4,000 for a
site check and construction
drawings for a new reservoir in
Brentwood Park, near Fourth
street and New York avenue
NE. to better distribution in the
so-called low-pressure service
areas such as AnacoStia.
The sewer division asks the
biggest capital outlay bite, $3.7
million to install aeration and
final settling tanks at the sewage
treatment plant.
Another 100000 is sought to
build relief sewers in more criti-
cal areas, and 100000 for
storm water sewer construction.
In connection with the Dis
trict's Incinerator No. 3, $270,0
is asked to complete construc-
ton and more than $250,000 to
staff and equip the new plant.