Hitherto the waste has not seriously threatened the adequacy of supply or materially affected its cost, though during a part of the last winter the situation as to quantity was acute, and for a short time dangerous. From January 25 to February 28 the waste was so excessive that on one date, February 16, the quantity used and wasted was 103,000,000 gallons; on another date, the 7th of February, 101,000,000 gallons, and on fourteen other days during the period indicated, between 90 and 100 million gallons. As a result of this waste the reservoirs were depleted until the total reserve capacity was but one-third of the normal, and less than two-days' supply. This, notwithstanding the fact that the lowering of the reservoirs enabled the conduit to discharge the unprecedented quantity of 97,000,000 gallons. At its lowest stage the distributing reservoir contained 16 inches of ice and 4 feet of water, or 7 feet less than it should contain. Though this situation was unprecedented and was passed without disaster, no risk of its recurrence can be accepted, because the next winter will find new limitations imposed, both as to supply and cost. The filtration plant, which will be put into operation before the next winter, has a maximum capacity of 75,000,000 gallons per diem. This capacity certainly can not be exceeded during prolonged cold weather without a serious diminution in the purity of the effluent. Any excess of supply over 75,000,000 gallons must, after filtration begins, be obtained by the introduction of unfiltered water into the mains, or, in other words, by a deliberate repollution of the purified supply. Such a course could be justified only in an emergency which no other possible measures could avert. Under any other circumstances it will be a crime against the public health, not punishable, perhaps, but no less a crime. The question of cost is also worthy of consideration. In the future, every gallon of water wasted will mean a certain quantity of money wasted, which has not heretofore been the case. The total cost of filtration will be about $6 per million gallons. A daily waste of 40,000,000 gallons means a daily useless draft of $240 on the revenues of the water department. In the past the question of the prevention of waste has been ignored, postponed, or evaded, because it was possible to do so. It is no longer possible. Measures of gradual, progressive application in a term of years offer no relief. What are required are measures which can be completely applied in a term of months, or better, of weeks. This condition excludes meters, which, if all opposition to them were withdrawn, would require several years for their complete installation. The choice appears to be restricted to two methods: To reduce the pressure in the mains, or to seek out individual cases of waste and reduce the pressure on the premises. The former method impairs the fire protection, and inflicts punishment on offending and nonoffending users alike. It does particular injustice to metered users. The second of the above methods, namely, the location of individual cases of waste and the reduction of pressure on the premises does not seem to be open to any serious objection. It is troublesome, probably somewhat costly, and domiciliary in character, but well within the reasonable scope of the operations of a municipal government. If enabling legislation is necessary in this particular case, it should be sought at the first opportunity. Methods of waste prevention involving information by water officials and punishment by judicial process, have been tried here, and have failed. They should not be repeated. Attention is invited to the danger of an interruption of the supply by an accident to the conduit. This structure has stood for nearly half a century, and without interruption in its use other than to empty it periodically for cleaning. This fact is no guarantee that it will not be interrupted in the future. It includes six tunnels aggregating 3,700 linear feet in seamy rock, and unlined. They can not be lined until a new conduit is built. At every cleaning fragments of rock are found to have been dislodged from the roof. There is an appreciable risk of more or larger pieces falling in, sufficient to block the tunnel for a considerable time. There are twenty-six culverts, nearly all in made ground, the failure of any one of which would break the conduit. They are of massive construction, but equally strong ones have been washed out, and these may be. The Dalecarlia reservoir is formed by an earthen dam across a valley. In this dam is the by-conduit. If this dam should break, the byconduit would be destroyed, and the supply of the District completely cut off. The statement is justifiable that, notwithstanding its fifty years of uninterrupted use, the Washington Aqueduct is more vulnerable than the average of similar structures and that there is risk of an accident to it which would cut off the supply for a period long enough to cause a water famine, which would involve a cancellation of all fire insurance and a partial depopulation of the city, besides other and more calamitous consequences. This risk can be underwritten by the construction of another conduit, and in no other way. The construction of a second conduit presents some important incidental advantages. It will settle the question of supply until the District contains more than twice its present population. If waste were effectively prevented, the two conduits would supply four times the present population. The project for the second conduit should include adequate reservoirs, and may be made to more than double the present reserve supply. This will remove the single defect in the filtration scheme. It is conceded and has been officially stated that the filtration plant will probably not produce an effluent entirely satisfactory as to color at periods of maximum turbidity in the river. To double the reserve reservoir capacity will permit the head gates to be closed during periods of maximum turbidity and insure a clear effluent at all times. The increased sedimentation will slightly increase the capacity of the beds. for a given cost of operation, or will reduce the cost for a given capacity. With the idea of insurance paramount, the new conduit should not be built alongside the present one, but should follow a radically different course to reduce to a minimum the chance of a single cause disabling both. For this reason, all possible alternative routes should be examined and the preliminary surveys become more important and more extensive and will require more time. An estimate of $10,000 for these surveys is submitted, and its favorable consideration is urged. The cost of these surveys and any probable cost of a second conduit will be a very cheap insurance against the interruption of the water supply, which will remain a constant menace to the District until such insurance is effected. ESTIMATES. For building combined storehouse and stable at Great Falls. Total Money statement. Appropriated by act of April 27, 1904.... Date. September 30, 1850.... July 1, 1905, balance unexpended. Appropriations made for the Washington Aqueduct, with the dates of acts for the same. $3,000 10,000 July 1, 1902. Total 33,000 46,000 $33,000.00 2,948.39 Amount. $20,000 80,000 82,500 71,500 25,000 26,000 22,000 25,000 37,000 22,000 ,000 33,000 ,000 33,000 4,593,657 NOTE.-Reverted to the Treasury: (a) $2.81, (b) $46.25, (c) $560.87, (d) 35 cents, (e) $1,109.87, (f) $381.06, (g) $1,354.17, (h) $2,266.34, (1) $4.12, (ƒ) $5,500, (k) $2.49, (m) $39.96, (#) $2,983.87, (0) $285.85, (P) $1,828.53, $4.38 from regular appropriation for Washington Aqueduct, $1,824.15 from appropriation for constructing telephone line, and (a) $1,450.02 from appropriations for protection to inlet at Great Falls and repairing by-conduit; total, $17,816.56. Since 1878 one-half of the amounts appropriated has been contributed by the United States and the other half by the District of Columbia. WASHINGTON AQUEDUCT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, FILTRATION PLANT, At the beginning of the fiscal year the work was about 15 per cent completed and was in full progress. The work done during the past fiscal year was partly by hired labor and partly by contract. Both classes were superintended by this office. The force at present employed by the United States consists of: One assistant engineer, 1 superintendent, 1 draftsman, 9 surveymen, 27 inspectors, I messenger, 3 foremen and overseers, 2 storekeepers, and such machinists, blacksmiths, carpenters, painters, bricklayers, laborers, etc., as are necessary to carry on the work. The work done by day labor and under proposal by circular letter constituted only a small portion of the whole and was as follows: Pumping station. During the year the brickwork, roof, gallery, floors, except under the electric generators, asphalt covering over coal vault, the vault lighting, and several other items were completed. At the close of the year preparations were being made for boiler and pump tests, and the station was complete except for the installation of the electric generators and engines, the tiling, and finishing. Office and laboratory.-The work on this building was begun during April, 1905, and at the close of the fiscal year the foundations, walls, roof, floors, and partitions were complete. Regulator houses.-The foundation of No. 7 was built, Nos. 2 and 5 were built complete, the superstructures of Nos. 1, 3, and 4 were built, and the foundation and walls of No. 6. Controller house. This building was completed during the fiscal year except for plastering and painting. Shelter house. The foundation, walls, and roof of this building were built during the year. The work done under formal contract was as follows: Babcock & Wilcox Co.-The installation of boilers, mechanical stokers, and economizers by this company was completed early in the year, but, due to delays in installing the engines and pumps, this work was not tested. Henry R. Worthington.-During the year this contractor completed the installation of main pumps and engines, and sand-washing pumps and engines, and steam piping. At the close of the year the main engines were being adjusted for final tests. Builders Iron Foundry.-During the fiscal year these contractors delivered and installed the registers for the 72-inch and 54-inch meters and delivered the remaining register and 29 indicators. Coffin Valve Company.-These contractors completed their contract during January, 1905, by the delivery of the remaining valves, valve boxes, valve stems, and floor nuts. Virginia Portland Cement Company.-During the fiscal year these contractors delivered 120,607.75 barrels of cement. The amount of cement delivered under this contract and the disposition made of it is as follows: Accepted prior to July 1, 1904.... Total accepted to July 1, 1905.. Rejected prior to July 1, 1904 Total rejected to July 1, 1905.. Received and not yet acted on Barrels. 36, 908.00 118, 312. 50 155, 220. 50 2, 492.00 2,568.50 5,060.50 2,088.00 Total received to July 1, 1905 162, 369.00 All cement was tested and was generally satisfactory. The main cause of rejection during the year was lack of fineness. The progress of the work of the main contractors during the summer of 1904 was not considered satisfactory, and during January, 1905, schedules of operations for the ensuing season were prepared and submitted to the contractors. These schedules indicated to each contractor the quantity and location of work to be done during each month, from March to October. At the close of the fiscal year all work was up to schedule except as hereinafter noted. The Brennan Construction Company.-These contractors have con- The progress made by this contractor has equaled that required by the schedule with a few trifling exceptions, which will in no way delay the final completion of the work. Cowardin, Bradley, Clay & Co.-The amount of work of the various classes done by these contractors, with the amounts remaining to be done, are as follows: Concrete in floors.. Total concrete. cubic yds.. .do.. .do.... Per cent. 100 100 79 71 98 98 72 From July Amount 1, 1904, to remainJuly 1, 1905. ing. 26,840.98 The remaining excavation consists of about 14,900 cubic yards in bed 10 and about 7,000 cubic yards in the courts. The time of completion of bed 10 will determine to a large extent the completion of the whole on account of the interference of this work with all other work on the plant. |