Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-02
CENTRAL WATER
PROJECT FAVORED
Proposal Made to Utilize
Wells for Arlington
County Needs.

Development of a central water
otant. obtaining water for household
and industrial purposes from several
score wells drilled into water bear
ine rock strata is recomme nded for
Arlington County's water supply by
the Geological Survey today. The rec
onmenda tions are contained in re-
port hv the survey To ~. \. SafeH,
chairman Of committee appointed
by business mems organizations of
Clarendon. The Clarendon Citizens
Association and the Arlington Coun-
" commissioners.
Before the project Of utilizing
ground water was definitely decided
one way or another. the survey in
NestiGators urged that estimates be
made Of the cost of installing and
operating small systems of water
work supplied by wells for the sew
eral communities in the county. Ar
linston County now has no central
water works. water for the commnni-
ties in he county either being sup
piled by individual or community
wells.
Use of water from the Washington
system was not recommended. ~!
though a main now crosses into N:r
ginia TO supply the military post AT
Fort Myer
go 4hn Cost Estimated.
Tho report suggests hat q minimum
Of 80 VOLS he drilled in the county.
which would furnish about million
gallons of water dav If kept in con
tinuous operation. At p cost of about
$50 600. The water would he collected
from each group in u concrete reser-
voir pumped into an elevated tank
and thence distributed through the
mains This would he sufficient. the
report estimated. 10 take care of the
present population of about 5000 per
sons. and population increased more
wells could be added.
Establishment of a publication plant
would he requi ed in case \ system of
properly planned waterwOrkS utilizing
surface water from Pimmit Run. Pc
tomac River or some other source
were installed. such a system The re.
port said. would doubtless he more
adequate than any system using
ground wafer. because the supply
would he Sufficien; To care for the
growing needs or the county for a
long time to come"
Whether the water is obtained
from surface or underground sources.
II is essential that the supply he re
liable both as 10 quantity and quail
ity.' Says the report. made by G. r.
Ross Of the geological survey. after
an extensive inquiry. The sanitary
quality of the water in we'll may
he excellent when the we'll is drilled
hut il may not remain 50 unless con
stant care is exercised"
Flexible System Urged.
The largest advantage of 2 supply
from wells. the report said is the
f1eXihility of the system.
II would proha bly, he unwise TO
utilize surface water unless sufficient
money We're available for the con
struCtion of a plant adequate To sup
ply the entire area for some time TO
come. the report added. "A system
using ground water could start with
few wells and he expa nded as the
need arose and availah funds per
mltted. Consequently il would he
possible for individual communities To
equip themselves with plants ade-
Quate for their own needs If a plan mt
large enough to supply the whole area
of the Arlington and Washington dis
trictS could not be ARIA nged for in
the immediate future
A careful survey OF the wholesprob-
lem will show that it will he more eco
nomical and feasible. until the popu-
latiOn has ConSidera blv increase TO
install A few small ground water sys-
TENS than 10 carry ont the large sur
lace water project Al present and 10
begin Immediately 70 carry the heavy
fixed and operating charges II would
entail. If individual communities in
stall ground water systems the dis
tributing mains should he so designed
that as many Of them as possible can
be utilized if surface water system
Il later installed
The report adds that Al favora bile
localities in the county successful
wells will most commonly he obtained
AT depths of 100 TO $50 feet Alexan-
dria. south of Arlington County. dra VS.
Run