Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-13
Experts Take 1870 Look
At Potomac Water Need
Continued From First Page

HN VVVuIuO
Continued From First Page
wouldn't the 500 million low flow
of 1880 still be adequate?
Here. the other considerations
enter the scene.
DilutiOn Is Factor
A certain amount of water
now an estimated 400 gallons
daily-must be available to dilute
adequately the pollution which
enters the river in the heart of
the populous area.
Further. there are upstream
water supply requirements such
as farm and orchard irrigation,
that are new to the river since
1880 and are expected to grow in
the future.
consequently, and entirely
aside from such factors as irri-
cation, a simple addition of pres
ent water consumption and the
amounts required for adequate
pollution abatement produce a
figure that exceeds by $50 million
gallons the 1880 low flow.
another factor related impor-
family to low flows is the maxi
mum demand periods when water
consumption sometimes is double
that of the average.
"A look into the near future
causes the graveSt concern: The
huge influx of people into the
suburban Washington area has
led other major jurisdictions.
their present water supplies fast
becoming inadequate. to turn
to the Potomac as their source.
1870 Demand Anticipated
The Army engineers take this
into account in a table showing
the demands they expect on the
river in this area by 1870. For
domestic consumption: Washing
t6n-Arlington, 3l2 million gall
lens daily; Princes Georges
Montgomery Counties, wash
ington Suburban Sanitary Dis
trict). so million; Fairfax Coun-
ty is million; and Rockville, 8
million.
Also. the engineers figure that
upstream Frederick, Md, will be
taking out Z million gallons
daily for domestic consumption;
that irrigation will demand 100
million and that at very least
$50 million will be needed for
pollution abatement, all by 1870.
The grand total comes to IL
billion gallons daily, more than
double that low flow of Is years
ago. The figures, moreover, do
not take into account other up
stream areas certain to increase
their use of the basins waters.
Virtually all the principal
jurisdictions of the Washington
area have kept close account of
water consumption past and an
ticipated. The growth figures are
staggering. Here is the rundown:
WASHINGTON, ID. C.
The Potomac, its source since
the mid-19th century. the city
population has increased from
$4,000, with an average daily
water consumption rate of Sc
million gallons in 1890: 663 900
and LOT million gallons in 1910;
$4,000 and 143 million gallons
in 1850; 100000 and 100 million
gallons last year. Projections to
1910 show an expected popula-
ton of 100000 consuming a daily
average of ITO million gallons.
and 975,000 consuming 100 mil
lion gallons by 1000 AID.
: ARLINGTON
Began getting its water from
the Potomac through Washing
toms distributing system In 1923
with a population consumption
record of $1,000 and $4,000 gal
Ions daily in 1880; $1,000 and 3.s
million gallons in 1910; 1876. 00t
and IL million gallons in 1850;
$4,000 and 16 million gallon;
last year Projections for 1870
are $4,000 and 81 million gal
Ions. and for 1000 AID. are
100000 and 43 million gallons
MONTGOMERY-PRINCE
GEORGES
washington Suburban Sanitary
DISTRICT
The Patuxent Rixer-the wa
tershed just to the northeast oil
the Potomac's-presently sup
plies a 302-square- mile section
Of Prince Georges-Montgomery
Counties. The supply expected
to be inadequate by 1860, WSSC
officials plan to go to the Poto-
mac, near Watts Branch, BY
that time. Population and water
consumption: $4,000 and 3.5 mil.
lion gallons daily in 1880; l00,.
600 and 7.3 million gallons ir
1940: 100000 and 21.5 gallons il
1850: 100000 and 81 million gal.
Ions Last year: an expected
100000 and els million gallons
in 1870 and IL million consum.
ing 100 million gallons in 2o0t
AID.
The two storage dams anc
reservoirs on the Patuxent havl
Just about reached their limi
at So million gallons daily IL
meeting demands Of it, servic,
araa ~ tha ,nnvt Pax,, ,,nae. u,