Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-09-27
Rockville Water Supply Discussed

That Rockville soon will become a wate
customer of the Washington Suburban
sanitary Commission and thus be assured
OF an adequate supply of water seemed
apparent at public meeting in the Rock
vile school auditorium on Wednesday
night of last week.
The meeting was called by the Mayor
and Council to acquaint the citizens with
the serious situation confronting the town
because of an inadequate water supply
and for an interchange of ideas as to
what had best be done to relieve the
shortage.
Although no action was taken and the
Mayor and Council did not commit them
selves. the explanations and discussions
were interpreted as meaning lookup
with the mains of the Sanitary Commission
as the most economical thing to do. Early
announcement by the Mayor aid Council
OF decision to enter into such contract
is looked for.
Some time ago it was announced that
the Mayor and Council had received legal
advice to the effect that the town was
without authority to contract with the
Sanitary Commission for its water supply,
but Mayor Spates said that it had since
been discovered that an act Of the legisla-
euic VI 1000 gives dhpic PotHiooioh ioi
such course.
A member of Baltimore engineering
firm who recently made survey Of Rock
vile. at the request of the town authorities,
to determine the available water supplies
and the approximate cost of each, attended
the meeting Wednesday night and told
what the survey showed OF the three
sources found Misunderstanding addi-
tional wells, development of Watts Branch
mile away and hooking up with the SAM
tary Commissions mains-no direct rec
ommendation was made.
A representative of the State Department
of Health attended the meeting and in
response to a question as TO the quality of
the water that the Sanitary Commission
would supply, replied that it was of remark
able purity and much better than that now
being used in Rockville.
Should it be decided to obtain water from
the Sanitary Commission. the initial cost
probably would be less than $4,000, it was
said. There would, however. be what was
referred to as carrying cost" for few
| years, not more than seven and probably
less, which. with the usual rates. would
make the cost somewhat higher than the
town is now paying, but it was explained
that when the so-called carrying cost ceases
which would be when the commission ex
tends its main to Seneca. as it is under
stood to be contemplated, there would b,
no further carrying charge against Rock
vile and the cost would fall below that nov
in effect in the town. Either Of the alter
natives. il was pointed out, would invOlv,
heavy initial outlay. and eventually. n
matter which of the three plans is adopted
the town would have to enlarge some o
its mains in the interest of better fire pro
lection and fire insurance rates it wa
explained
Fear was expressed that should con
tract be entered into with the Sanitar
Commission it might eventually lead to tn
town becoming part of the Suburba
Sanitary District, but Mayor Spates CAV
assurance that no such move is contem
plated and II any attempts along that lin
should be made. it would be referred I
the citizens Of the county seat for decision
1t was said that the proposed hook ~
with the Sanitary Commissions main
probably would require several month,
but it was pointed out that well the tow
is now sinking would increase the waite
supply sufficiently for the short interim.
Rockville is now using about all tn
water available approximately 1900
gallons day-it was shown. Many thOus
ands of gallons more are needed il wa
declared. to make the supply adequate fC
all purposes, including fire fighting