Evening star., 1922-07-11
WOULD END ROCK
CREEK POLLUTION
Commissioners Urge Con-
Meeting of District and
Maryland Sewer Systems.

A big step toward ending the pollu-
tion. by Maryland sewage. OF ROCK
Creek and other streams was taken
today when the District Commission
ers approved, at a board meeting. an
agreement, which they will submit
to the Maryland authorities. provid-
ing fer the connecting up of the
sewer systems of Maryland and the
District
The agreement drafted by the Com
rnissioners stipulates that Maryland
shall pay the District government
one half a cent for each 1000 gallons
of sewage handled and disposed OF
by the sewage system of the District
of Columbia, during the first five
years the agreement is in effect. After
that date the fee to be paid by Mary
land fer sewage handled by the Dis
trict will be determined at that time.
Would Connect Systems.
If this agreement meets with the
approval of the Washington Subur-
ban Sanitary Commission, which has
control over the water and sewage
of nearby Maryland. it will make
possible the connecting up of the
two systems as soon as the sewer
main of each jurisdiction meets at
the District line.
At the present time there is still a
considerable amount of pipe to be
constructed. both in Maryland and the
District. before the two systems can
be Joined together.
1t is regarded as encouraging. how
ever. to have the agreement in definite
shape. 1t is probable that the Com
missioners will endeavor to obtain
from Congress during the next few
years the appropriations needed to
complete the trunk mains on the Dis
trict side of the line.
Has Bond Authority.
The sanitary commission already
has authority to issue bonds to build
its part of the connecting line as soon
as it seems certain that Washington
will have the money to complete its
part.
one OF the biggest advantages to
result from the connecting up OF the
two sewer systems Will be the treeing
of Rock creek from the pollution
which now flows into 1t from
Maryland communities north of the
District. The Eastern branch or the
Potomac will lie similarly protected
when the entire project is finished.
The agreement drafted by the Com
missioners reads, in part. as follows;
Draft of Agreement.
THAT in consideration of the mu-
tual benefit to be derived therefrom
and the further consider alton here
and after set forth the Commission
ers of the District of Columbia here
by agree TO permit and authorize the
Washington Suburban Sanitary Com
mission or its successors to connect
any sewer, sewers or sewerage sys-
tens under the jurisdiction and con-
troll of the latter with the sewerage
systems of the District of Columbia
under the conditions here and after
set forth, and also the party of the
second part agrees to permit the con-
nection of sewers of the District of
Columbia where necessary to secure
proper drainage with the sewers or
Sewerage systems of the party of the
second part under similar regula-
tions and conditions.
The agreement then stipulates that
all connections are to be made at or
near the District line. that the con-
nection shall be provided with meas
uring devices 10 measure the now or
sewerage. that the actual connection
and installation of measuring equip
ment shall be made by the party into
whose system the sewerage is to
drain and at the expense Of the ap-
plicant.
Cost and Control
The agreement provides that the
cost of operation and upkeep of the
measuring devices shall be paid by
the applicant for the connection. but
that the device shall be under the
control of the party ino whose system
the sewage is discharged. provided
that the applicant may participate in
Joint reading of such devices from
time to time.
The District stipulates that only
into the local system and that every
precauion shall be taken to exclude
therefrom surface or rain water.
Any property lying within the sani-
tary district of Maryland and abutting
a District sewer will be permitted to
connect with said DisricC sewer upon
written consent from the party of the
first part and upon payment by the
party of the second part to the COL
lector of taxes of the District an as
sessment according to the frontage
of the property in question. The rate
will be $50 per linear front foot for
property having frontage of less
than fifty feet.
1t is provided that the Maryland
commission shall pay to the District a
fat annual charge of 81 for each
house in the Maryland sanitary dis
trict abutting on the District of Co
lumhia the sewer of which connects
to cover the estimated cost to the
District of pumping sewage from said