Evening star., 1902-03-01
WITHIN THREE YEARS
New Sewage Y System VIII
be il Operation.
NO MORE BACKING UP
CELLAR FLOODING WILL BE A
THING OF TIE PAST.
Plan Regarded ssAll as Practically
1deal-Drainags in Low


Within the next three years, when 1t is
estimated the sewage disposal system OF
the national capital now under construction
will be in operation. the possibility Of the
flooding OF cellars on the lower street levels.
and all danger OF a-fiood in the streets as a
result OF high water in the Potomac. will
be eliminated. The sewage disposal system
is well under way, the work having been
carried on unostentatiously. Many Of the
sewers that will go to make UP the sys-
tenn are on very low levels and these are
being built by tunneling
When the system is completed and the
outlet sewers no longer empty directly
into the river, there will be no more back
ing up of sewage water into the lower
levels. Property that has heretofore been
seriously affected by occasional cellar flood
ing will no longer be menaced, and the only
danger of water in the streets Of the city
VIII De from tho Potomac Overf1owing Its
banks Th1s Is regarded as remote possi-
blllty, and with the construction of dykes,
or seawall, as called for in the park
commission plans, Washington will be en-
tirely protected in all it's sections from a
fotonac flood. no matter how turbulent
the river may become.
The System as Planned.
The sewage system as planned for the
capital by the board of sanitary engineers,
and which Is now in process Of construc-
ton, is regarded by all who have studied
the plans to be practically ideal and will
provide for the disposal of the sewage of
thf: city for the next thirty or forty years
"uhout the necessity of an expansion OF
any or Its features. The sewage from all
parts OF the city will be gathered up by
high and low-level intercepting sewers and
carried to the foot Of New Jersey avenue
southeast. From Georgetown, from the
heights OF Tenleytown, from Brightwood,
from the southwest, the northeast, from
all points Of the compass the sewage will
flow to that point
In order to give the fall necessary for
good flow, many Of the sewers will nat
urally be on a very low level when they
reach the big underground basin to be con-
structed at New Jersey avenue. Here the
big pumping station and the mammoth ma
chlnery will be erected. The pumps will
litt the sewage from the low-level basin
and discharge it into a great inverted sy-
phon. 1t will thus be conveyed across the
Anacostia river and enter on the other
side an outfall sewer, which will discharge
into the river at Magazine Point, where
the stream is broad and the quantity of
water sufficient to at once diffuse the mat
ter sufficiently to make it unobjectionable.
Amount Of Appropriation.
The appropriations to date on account Of
work in progress on the sewage disposal
system aggregate 81 1862, 900. The esti-
mated amount required to complete the pro-
ject in addition to the amounts heretofore
appropriated. including the appropriation
OF over 81 O00, 900 now running as stated
and 500. .473.04 for work completed. Is 81
&C. .O97.5O
The sewage disposal system was planned
by board of sanitary engineers appointed
by President Benjamin Harrison, and which
completed its work IN June, 1900. The
board WAS composed of Messrs. Rudolph
Herring. Samuel M. Gray and Frederic P.
Stearns. All of these were considered able
to deal with the project with the greatest
Intelligence. In submitting it's report, the
board said in regard to protecting the low
levels of the city from floods:
''The act Of Congress authorizing the ap-
pointment Of this board made no reference
to the fact that we should consider the pro-
lection of the low portions Of the city from
floods due to freshets in the river. But
soon after we began our investigations 1t
became evident that the works required for
sewage disposal had SO many features in
common with those required for flood pre-
yention that they would have to be con-
sidered Jointly. We have. therefore, made
a careful study Of the ways by which the
low portions of the city can be protected
against floods
The Problem to Be Solved.
''Concisely stated. the problem which we
find placed before us, therefore, is to
recommend a comprehensive system OF
sewerage and drainage, which will effectu-
ally remove the sewage from the inhabited
parts Of the District, and dispose of it in an
unobjectionabl emanner, both to those In and
out Of the District, and which will prevent
the rainWater of heavy storms from caus-
ing Inconvenience and damage by flooding
and further a provision in connection with
the foregoing requirements. for preventing
freshets in the Potomac river from over
flowing the low areas in the central part of
the city,
The board recommended the construction
of dikes along the low city front of the
river to prevent an overflow Of the river
itself. This work has not been undertaken
as yet The possibility of the Potomac over
flowing its banks Is always very remote.
The possibilities OF an ice gorge and con-
sequent flooding will be lessened to a great
extent at an early date by the removal OF
the Long bridge. Congress, and the citizens
generally considered that the most import
ant part of the work recommended by the
board of sanitary engineers was the sewage
disposal system. 1t was argued that while
the danger from an overflow of the river
was remote, the danger of flooding Of cel-
lars and conduits by high water in the river
blocking the outflow Of the sewers Was
by no means remote. Rather than remote
the flooding Of some cellars is of almost
annual recurrence.
Drainage in Low Areas.
The most important matter therefore. in
connection with the general project was to
provide a means Of draining the premises
in the low area. The board recommended
the various lines of sewer to be constructed.
Since it's report, however several trunk
sewers have been added to the scheme, tho
most important OF which Is one that will
provide the properties within the low sec
tions of the city adjacent to Pennsylvania
avenue between LIST and 18th streets with
adequate sewerage. facilities. This sewer
will be deep down below the surface and
provide natural flow for cellar sewers.
The District Commissioners have recently
reported to Congress- that, under the appro-
priation for the pfSparation OF detailed
plans and spef1hca1Ions for sewage dis
various trunk sewers, the inverted siphon
across the Anacostia river and the pumping
station have been completed The SURVEYS
for land to be acquired for the construction
OF the outfal sewer beyond the Anacostia
have not been fully stOmpleted. The Conn
missipners further reported: