Evening star., 1922-07-06
ROCK CREEK PARK
BATHING IS HALTED
Sheriff. Orders Ban Until
Means Is Obtained to
End Pollution.

Bathing is prohibited in Rock creek
by an order issued today by Col. c.
O. Sheriff.. in charge of public build
ings and grounds. The ban will con-
tinue until the District sewage sys-
tenn is connected with that of nearby
Maryland. as contemplated through
the extension of the interceptor
sewer, or until some other means is
found to purify the waters of the
stream, which now serves as an out
let to sewage in nearby Maryland
communities.
Col. Sherrilps announcement
stated that bathing is prohibited in
Rock creek until further notice" on
account of the insanitary condition of
the water, (which is 80 serious that
it cannot be corrected by any possible
means Of chlorination."
Sewer Connection Solution.
"As soon as the conditions are such
as to justify, notice will be given that
bathing may be resumed" the an
nouncement declared. 1T Is with the
greatest regret that this Office is COM
pelled to take this action. due to the
insanitary condition of the water in
the territory covered by the tribu-
taries Of Rock creek"
Of1cials seem Of one mind that the
proposed connection Of the District
sewers with those Of Maryland offers
a better solution of the present prob
lem than either the construction of
proper disposal plants in nearby
Maryland towns or by court proceed
ing to forbid sewage dumping.
Point Out Uncompleted Work.
oficials of the District government
point to the act of Congress. ap-
proved September l. 1915. providing
for the work on the sewer extension
to the District line, and that the work
has gone on to a certain point. The
general assembly Of Maryland. in
1918, incorporated the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission. which
has reported to the District, govern
ment that the completion of the in
terceptor sewer Is the only solution
Of the problem of pollution of Rock
Creek. Both sides of the line Off
cials seem to believe the same way
about the proposition. and both
groups are going ahead on that basis:
J. b. Gordon. sanitary engineer of
the District, said today that he will
present his estimates July is to the
assistant Engineer Commissioner. and
that these estimates will include an
item for the completion of the sewer.
This will be for the fiscal year 1924.
Offers Best Answer. /
Mr.. Gordon Is firmly of the opinion
that the connection of the District
sewer with those of Maryland offers
the best solution Of the problem. By
thus taking the sewage of nearby
Maryland towns underground through
Washington into the Potomac, a much
better disposal is secured than by
use of septic tanks, he believes. Mr.
Gordon declared that septic tanks in
theory are all right. but that often
in practice they do not work out.
The Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission has the authority to
hook up with the District sewer as
soon as tho District shall extend the
sewer to the District line. The sewer
ia now about a mile and half short
Of the line.
Pollution ON Increase.
Conditions now existing in Rock
creek are described in memoran-
dunn by Maj W. P. Baker, Medical
Corps, U. S. A., sanitary inspector CT
the office Of public buildings and
grounds. In his report to Col. Sher-
rill. Maj. Baker said:
I'm accordance with your instruc-
tions, a most careful control of the
water in Rock creek has been carried
on Tor the past few months. Samples
Of water have been taken almost daily
for complete meteorological analysis.
and determinations of free chlorine
have been made every hundred yards
below the chlorination house.
For some time continuous chlori-
nation of the stream has been carried
IN. nv mis- means we nave main .alneu
concentration Of about .06 parts per
iiouid chlorine in the bathing pool
below. Tnls has used about $50 pounds
Of LIQUID chlorine in twenty-tour
hours, which. except in time Of storm
watar after q heavy rain. seemed to
contro, the pollution adequately.
"Vary recently the water In the
craeis IL noted to have diminished con-
siderably in volume and now. and at
the aanne time a higher degree Of pol
luton Of the stream with sewage
was found. This was Of course to
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