Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-09-18
Check Planned
To Include All
Buildings Here
BY JAMES G. DEANE

eminent, it was disclosed to.
day.
District budget officers have
approved two-thirds enlarge
ment Of the city's force of
plumbing inspectors. 1t is
planned to assign this enlarged
force to inspect all plumbing
installations throughout the
city.
The inspection is expected to
require five years. It is tenta-
lively scheduled to get under
way next July.
Oficials predicted that half
the city's buildings and homes
Will be found to be out of con-
formity with the plumbing
code. Owners in such cases will
be required to bring the in
stallations up to standard.
UnfavOrabIe Report
The basis of the planned
breakdown, which, however.
needs formal approval by the
Commissioners and Congress, is
an unfavorable report made
early this year by a COMMITTEES
responsible for Federal certifi-
cation Of the Districts water
supply.
The committee reported the
city lacking an adequate pro.
gram for detecting health haz-
ards and sanitary defects in
plumbing and in the water sys-
tenn. The United States Public
Health Service subsequently
warned that corrective steps
should be taken.
The Health Service. at the
time of the report, certified
the city's water as satisfactory
for use on trains and other in
terState carriers. But since the
report was made. city officials
have been concerned at the
possibility that the certification
might be withdrawn. Certifca-
ton is reviewed annually, and
another committee has now
started checking water supply
conditions again, preliminary
to deciding the question for
next year.
Ofncials reported the city
has some $4,000 single and
multiple family dwellings and
10000 commercial buildings.
The newest buildings pre-
sumahly have satisfactory
plumbing. because of inspec-
tons during construction. But
many older structures have in.
stallations which met former
requirements but are now out
OF date because of revisions Of
the plumbing code, inspection
ofhcialS said.
Contamination Feared
The danger Of contamination
is present with much older
plumbing. they explained.
One complication in connec.
ton with the proposed crack.
down is that the present code
authorizes periodic inspections
only Of commercial buildings,
not private dwellings.
For this reason, License and
Inspection Chief Cabell Gwath-
mey said he plans to ask for Q
new regulation empowering in
spectors to enter private homes.
The inspection department
also plans to ask the Federal
Government to launch q pro-
gram to eliminate possible
plumbing hazards in Federal
buildings.
The Commissioners already
are negotiating with the State
Department. 1t was disclosed,
regarding the inspection Of en-
bassies and other foreign prop
critics. District inspectors now
lack access to either Federal or
foreign properties.
The budget office approved
inclusion Of Sos, 1876 in the city's
tentative 1859 budget for en-
ployine 10 additional plumbing
inspectors. an enforcement in
vestigator and two clerks. The
plumbing inspection force at
present numbers II.
Besides the plumbing item.
the tentative budget for Mr..
Gwathmey's department in
cludes $4,000 for three investi-
gators to enforce the Districts
new charitable solicitation act,
intended to police fund appeals.
Budget officers also approved
funds for creating a post Of
community relations adviser to
work with citizens on enforce
ment of the housing code. Con-
gress killed q similar item this
year.
The inspections department
was granted a tentative allot-
ment Of 50 million, an increase
Of $4,000 over this year.