The Washington times., 1920-06-26
NEW PLANT TO
'SUPPLYWATER
Sanitary Commission Plans
Filtration Station at Burnt
Mills for Nd. Towns.


A big filtration plant north OF
Burnt Mills, Nd, will be built in the
near future, IL tho water supply OF
Washington Is not sufficient TO sup
ply the nearby Maryland towns. This
10 the plan OF the Washington Su-
burban Sanitary Commission. which
has charge OF the connecting up OF
the nearby towns In Montgomery and
Prince Georges counties. with the
Washington sewerage and water. sys-
tenn.
The District Commissioners have
repeatedly answered the request for
water for the Maryland towns. by
pointing out that the water system OF
Washington IL barely sufficient to
meet the needs OF the people here, and
that any drain on II might prove q
hardship to the people OF the District.
Only last January they were forced to
refuse a request for q maximum sup
ply OF 5000 GALLONS q day for the
Chevy Chase district Of the commis-
sion.
WILL ERECT PLANT.
The sanitary commissions present
plan is to impound the northwest
branch at a point a little north Of
Burnt Mills, Nd, and erect a filtra-
tion plant there. This is about the
center OF the area over which the
commission has authority to connect
water and sewer systems.
The filtration plant. II Is estimated
by engineers. would be sufficient to
supply all the territory with water
for many years to come, and in the
course of time when II was not suf-
hcient. water could be brought into
the branch from the Patuxent river.
al hAg
have a capacity of about lS0.0OO.00O
gallons q day. or more than twice the
capacity OF the Washington water
system at present.
The commission. however. will not
go ahead on the plans for It's own
filtration plant until all hope Of get
ting water from Washington Is gone.
The commission and the District Com
It Is said on all sides.
have been working on the friendliest
terms. annd the District Commis-
si0ners have repeatedly told the
commission that as soon as
the Washington water supply reaches
q stage where they can spare the
the Maryland towns. ..
OPERATES TWO SYSTEMS.
The Maryland commission Is ro~
operating the water systems in Ia
koma Pork and Hyattsville. The for
mer since January 1 last and the lat.
ter since January 1 last. 1t Is under
stood that an agreement has been
reached between the mayor and town
council Of Mt. Rainier, Nd, and the
commission, providing for the taking
over of the water and sewerage sys-
TENS OF. that town as Of July I next.
The consideration, 1t is understood.
was $110, 900. and II is provided in the
agreement that the town retain the
deed to the springs from which the
water supply Is obtained.
The area over which the commits
sion has supervision Is about ninety
five square miles in the lower part of
and Prince Georges
The commission has been
working on the plan to improve the
water and sewer systems of the
towns in this territory for several
years and is now about % per cent
through with the major operations.
1t Is estimated that 1t will take from
three to hve years to complete the
WORKS on coNTRACrs.l
The commission is now engaged in
work on outstanding contracts for
the installation OF a water system in
the Silver Springs district, and it is
expected that work on this project
will be begun in a few days.
The object OF this work is to unity
the section known as the Takoma
Park district. Under the law creating
the commission, they are given au-
thority to set out water and sewer
according to the topography
of the country and the economy Of
operation.
The commission Is also planning to
take over the existing system in the
Chevy Chase section and coordinate
II.
The work OF the Commission will
mean a better water and sewer sup
ply systems in the nearby Maryland
towns, and will also greatly reduce
the rates of fire insurance.
TOWN WILL SAVE MONEY.
Under the commissions control the
entire cost OF operating the Mt. Rain
Ter plant will be borne by the COM
mission. The rate to be paid for
water and sewer will not exceed Is
cents per front foot, corner lots pay
Ing only for frontfootage. 1t is esti-
mated that the water charges for the
average family will be about 80 a
year.
The fact that sufficient pressure OF
water will be maintained to insure an
ample supply to consumers in all SOC
tions of the town is gratifying, some
Of the citizens having been cut short
by reason of poor pressure.
Sufficient supply also will result in a
reduction of insurance rates, IL Is
pointed out.
1t Is estimated that the taking over
Of the plant by the commission will
leave Mount Rainier with a balance
Of about 81. ZOO in the town treasury.
the best condition financially the town
has ever enjoyed and one that enables
II to go ahead with various improve