Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-12-11
Washington's Defective Sewerage
SYSTEM.


TIE DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS PROPOSE REMEDY.
Engineer Commissioner Twinng has la d
before Senator Dorsey, chairman OF senate Dis
trict Committee, his plans and estimates for
remedying the present defective sewerage sys-
tenn of Washington. In his letter of transmis-
sion lie says:
1.-The commissioners OF the District OF Column
bia present herewith the plans and estimates
for the relief of the difficulties arising from the
de1ectS In the main sewerage of Washington
The principal causes of complaint are found In
the low-lying grounds along b street northwe Sc
and the botanical! gardens. In these localities
large areas are flooded during each heavy ia N
to the depth CT from two to three feet. fniuring
greatly the value OF property, giving ground )
Iol much veXatious litigation and affecting seri-
with presented are designed to prevent tae
overflow upon the surface and to protee. the
District thereby from liability for DANA -e Tley
are. in fact. intended to correct the ground, OF
complaint by the general public and inc!tlanI
ally TO relieve those OF the residents wloSe
houses are SO constructed as to bring them
aDoye the llne OF necessary fall OF the sewers in
d1scharging their contents into the river The
D0afd are or the opinion that within the life OF
the present generation there will be no neceS-
Sly Ior the construction of works looking to the
discharge OF the sewerage at points far distant
Eom tie city, and that all of the conditions
OF health will have been sufficiently ob-
served, when the discharge takes place
in deep-lunning water and the flats in
front OF the city are filed so as to prevent the
lodgment OF focal matter upon grounds whicl
are exposed during the intervals OF low tides
AS at present designed, the principal late.alS
form their accumulated floods into the almost
horizontal grounds, which are entirely
insnflleent aet1ed IT in capacity for the service
ters are thrown upon the surface
The laterals are themselves overcroWded
along their lower sections, and in many cases.
Qllrlng heaVy rains, spout their waters like
fountains into the air at points where the face
OF the ground gives no opportunity of easy re-
lief. The board propose to relieve those latera!S
and the main sewers OF the low grounds by
SelZlng the waters OF the upper areas at Suita-
Ole points in their intermediate passage and
conducting them by independent channels into
the river. The present system OF sewers will
tLen be ample to carry off the floods from the
surface below the lines OF the fnterceDting
sewers. Thus, the line OF the relieving sewer
ior the street area will be along New York
avenue, down 18th street, and thence by direct
line to the river. 1t may ultimately be nece3-
sary to construct a parallel sewer upon the
south side OF B street, but at present its drain
age may be otherwise provided for. The drain
d1iilcult problem. This basin extends far out
beyond the boundary OF the present city:
It's total area being five square miles
With the exception of the small portion carried
with the Eastern Branch by the interceotinr
sewer along Boundary street. the entire drain.
age passes through the arch at the Botanical
Garceps Under the present conditions the
water from the hills even beyond the soldiers
Home is carefully gathered and housed in one
tremendous volume through the very hearf or
the city. On no account should such state of
affairs be allowed TO exist. IT is true that here
tOfoTe the surplus waters have spouted through
the manhOeS OF the overloaded sewer to be
again absorbed through the same apertureS
when the rains have subsidized, leaving the Hood
ed areas covered with Shiny and filthy Sedi-
ment; but the narrow escape of the lower part
OF the city from a horrible inundatiOn by the
breaking CT the Tiber arch IS peremptory
prCmOnitiOn of danger both to DTOnertV and
commissioners
driven to the conclusion that it is necessary to
adopt plan which will defect the waters OF
the outlying areas by means Of an intercepting
sewer which will carry them harmlessly into
the Eastern Branch. Owing to the insufficient
capacity OF the large connecting sewers in the
upper part OF the northwestern section of the
Gfl,H, IL mas been found necessary to carry the
lnteicepting sewer as far to the west as Sth
street. by the construction of the two inter-
cepting sewers for which estimates are present
ed amounting to $40 3j3.4I, the imme late and
pressing wants OF the city will be relieved The
remedy Is expensive, but the cure will be radi-
cal and permanent. Questions will hereafter
arise in regard tot treatment of the sewer diff
ficuities on the low grounds from back water OF
the river in times OF excessive Hood. Two
methods or treatment will present themselves:
one, to separate the surface drainage from the
sew st age service proper, and pump the latter
the other to raise the grade Of the low grounds
over certain limited areas The last system will
undoubtedly be the most satisfactory in its re.
SUITS. me commissioners are not, however.
and estimated the cost. to give their positive
recommendation to either plan. 1t is, at all
events, a matter which will not require imma-
date attention. and can wait for q time when
1he flnanceS of the District are In more health
ful condition"
THE DETAILED ESTIMATES
present, in addition to the cost of the work
Which should be done Immediately. a gross estt-
mate OF the cost of carrying the proposed Inter
cept1ng sewer along New York avenue and the
present b street sewer through the flats to deep
water. This work would, in reality, be part
OF the expense OF the Improvement of the flats,
and can be completed gradually with that i'm
pfovement. at a far less expense to the District
lhan If undertaken as an independent work. 1t
IS not necessary that it should be done at once.
There are also presented, as properly appertain-
ing to the subject, the estimates of reDairInp
The break in the Tiber sewer at the Botanical
gardens, ga and for parallel sewer south Of b st.
Tie first constitutes an item properly chargea-
pie TO the revenues of the District as a work of
repair, While the second, for reasons before
stated, may be postponed until a more favora
PIE opportunity, or carried to completion grad
uaily at some future time as current work