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A-91465, MARCH 2, 1938, 17 COMP. GEN. 698

A-91465 Mar 02, 1938
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PURCHASES - DRINKING WATER A CONTRACT FOR THE FURNISHING OF BOTTLED DRINKING WATER FOR THE USE OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES IS NOT AUTHORIZED WHERE THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY OF THE LOCALITY IS SAFE FOR DRINKING PURPOSES. NOTWITHSTANDING THE PUBLIC WATER IS REPORTED TO BE VERY HARD. A LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO THE SUPPLY OFFICER. REQUESTING INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER A PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY WAS AVAILABLE AND. THE REASON SUCH SUPPLY WAS NOT UTILIZED. IT IS INDICATED IN THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT THE COMMANDING OFFICER AND THE MEDICAL OFFICER AT THE AVIATION BASE RECOMMENDED THAT THE SUPPLY OFFICER. STATES THAT THE WATER FURNISHED BY THE CITY OR VILLAGE OF GLENVIEW TO THE AVIATION BASE IS FOR FIRE PURPOSES PRIMARILY AND IS SUPPLIED TO THE BASE BY AN IRON PIPE 1 MILE LONG.

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A-91465, MARCH 2, 1938, 17 COMP. GEN. 698

PURCHASES - DRINKING WATER A CONTRACT FOR THE FURNISHING OF BOTTLED DRINKING WATER FOR THE USE OF OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES IS NOT AUTHORIZED WHERE THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY OF THE LOCALITY IS SAFE FOR DRINKING PURPOSES, NOTWITHSTANDING THE PUBLIC WATER IS REPORTED TO BE VERY HARD, UNPALATABLE, ETC.

ACTING COMPTROLLER GENERAL ELLIOTT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, MARCH 2, 1938:

THERE HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION A CONTRACT, NO. N-210-S-13025, DATED JULY 19, 1937, WITH ANDERSON AND NELSON, EVANSTON, ILL., COVERING PURCHASE OF APPROXIMATELY 2,500 GALLONS OF SPECIAL DRINKING WATER AT 10 CENTS A GALLON TO BE USED WITH AN ELECTRIC WATER COOLER AT THE UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE AVIATION BASE, CURTISS-WRIGHT AIRPORT, GLENVIEW, ILL.

UNDER DATE OF OCTOBER 6, 1937, A LETTER WAS ADDRESSED TO THE SUPPLY OFFICER, UNITED STATES NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES, ILL., REQUESTING INFORMATION AS TO WHETHER A PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY WAS AVAILABLE AND, IF SO, THE REASON SUCH SUPPLY WAS NOT UTILIZED, ATTENTION BEING INVITED TO 5 COMP. GEN. 53.

WITH HIS REPLY DATED OCTOBER 11, 1937, THE SUPPLY OFFICER FORWARDED CERTIFIED COPIES OF LETTERS DATED JUNE 9, 11, 12, AND 16, 1937, IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF THIS SPECIAL DRINKING WATER, THE LETTER OF JUNE 9, 1937, MAKING REFERENCE TO CONTRACT NO. ER-N-210-S 501, DATED FEBRUARY 17, 1937, WITH CHICAGO AVIATION CORPORATION, GLENVIEW, ILL., COVERING WATER SERVICE TO THE UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE AVIATION BASE, GLENVIEW, ILL., DURING THE PERIOD JANUARY 15, 1937, TO JUNE 30, 1937, INCLUSIVE. IT IS INDICATED IN THE CORRESPONDENCE THAT THE COMMANDING OFFICER AND THE MEDICAL OFFICER AT THE AVIATION BASE RECOMMENDED THAT THE SUPPLY OFFICER, UNITED STATES NAVAL TRAINING STATION, GREAT LAKES, ILL., ENTER INTO A CONTRACT FOR THE PURCHASE OF SPECIAL DRINKING WATER.

THE MEDICAL OFFICER, IN HIS LETTER OF JUNE 11, 1937, STATES THAT THE WATER FURNISHED BY THE CITY OR VILLAGE OF GLENVIEW TO THE AVIATION BASE IS FOR FIRE PURPOSES PRIMARILY AND IS SUPPLIED TO THE BASE BY AN IRON PIPE 1 MILE LONG; THAT WHILE THE WATER IS REPORTED BY THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO SAFE FOR DRINKING PURPOSES, THE VERY HIGH INORGANIC SALT CONTENT OF THE WATER PREDISPOSES TO CALCULUS FORMATION IN THE URINARY AND BILE DUCT SYSTEM IN SUSCEPTIBLE INDIVIDUALS; THAT THE WATER IS VERY HARD AND UNPALATABLE; AND THAT THERE IS NO METHOD TO COOL IT.

THE PURCHASE OF DRINKING WATER IS, ORDINARILY, A PERSONAL MATTER, AND MAY BE REGARDED AS A CHARGE AGAINST APPROPRIATED MONEYS ONLY UPON A SHOWING OF NECESSITY FROM THE STANDPOINT OF THE GOVERNMENT. ALSO,IT HAS BEEN HELD THAT WHERE THE WATER SUPPLIED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN THE LOCALITY IS AVAILABLE FOR GOVERNMENT USE THE PURCHASE OF SPECIAL WATER IS NOT AUTHORIZED UNLESS IT BE SHOWN THAT THE WATER OTHERWISE AVAILABLE IS NOT POTABLE. SEE 2 COMP. GEN. 776; 5 ID. 53; ID. 90; AND A-54821, APRIL 30, 1934.

THE ACCOUNTING OFFICERS HAVE HELD CONSISTENTLY THAT UNLESS THE PUBLIC WATER SUPPLY OF A LOCALITY IS DETRIMENTAL TO THE HEALTH OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, PUBLIC FUNDS ARE NOT CHARGEABLE WITH THE COST OF OTHER DRINKING WATER. SEE 3 COMP. GEN. 828. IT IS REPORTED THAT THE WATER SUPPLY OF GLENVIEW, ILL., IS SAFE FOR DRINKING PURPOSES. IT IS NOT APPARENT FROM ANYTHING THAT HAS BEEN SUBMITTED WHY THE MUNICIPAL WATER AVAILABLE AT THE NAVAL AVIATION RESERVE BASE COULD NOT BE COOLED -- IF ANY GOVERNMENTAL NEED EXISTS FOR ITS COOLING--- BY THE SAME MEANS EMPLOYED TO COOL THE SPECIAL WATER. BUT BE THAT AS IT MAY, IT MUST BE HELD ON THE PRESENT RECORD THAT THE CONTRACT FOR THE FURNISHING OF BOTTLED DRINKING WATER FOR THE USE OF THE OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES AT THE UNITED STATES NAVAL RESERVE AVIATION BASE, CURTISS WRIGHT AIRPORT, GLENVIEW, ILL., WAS NOT AUTHORIZED UNDER EXISTING LAW AND CREDIT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED FOR PAYMENTS FOR WATER DELIVERED THEREUNDER.

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