Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-24
NEARBY COUNTIES
SEEK D. c. WATER
Maryland Metropolitan Dis
trict Studying New Sup
ply Sources.
BY WILLIAM J. WHEATLEY,

BY Staff Correspondent Of The Star.
SILVER SPRING, Md, April "a
Connection with the water supply sys-
tenn of the District of Columbia to assure
an adequate supply in the metropolitan
district of Montgomery and Prince
Georges Counties, pending the develop
ment Of a larger supply for the Mary
land sections, is being sought by the
officials of the Washington-Subur
Sanitary Commission. While the metro
politan district systems at Burnt Mills
and at Hyattsville are said not to be
up to capacity use, nevertheless the
officials point out that they desire to
connect up with the Washington mains
so that they may have Immediately
available supply for the sanitary dis
trict in case of an emergency.
Cost Is Problem.
The only obstacle now standing in
the way, according to T. Howard
Duckett, chairman of the commission,
is the matter of cost. The District of
Columbia officials want to charge the
Maryland authorities the same price
for the water as is charged to the con-
Sumers in the National Capital Mr..
Duckett has discussed the matter with
the officials of the District Engineering
Department, and is planning to file a
brief with Corporation Counsel William
w. Bride, detailing his argument as to
why the sanitary district should not
be charged at this figure. Mr.. Duckett
pointed out that the charge to the
consumer in the District included the
Fire Department and other city depart
ments. The sanitary district also would
have to carry such charge, it was
pointed out, which might make the cost
prohibitive.
However, it is believed that the mat
ter may be amicably worked out, and
it is probable that connections between
the Washington system and the sanitary
district system will be made early this
Summer.
Present Surplus Small.
Robert B. Morse, engineer Of the
sanitary commission, pointed out that
the two Maryland systems now have a
small surplus. and that the proposal to
connect with the District lines was
merely foresighted move, to be pre-
pared for an emergency. 1t does not
mean that the Washington water will
be Served continuously, but it will guard
the sanitary district until certain plans
are completed and developed for estab-
fishing a permanent water supply for
this fast-growing area.
-Four connections with the city are
proposed, and Mr.. Morse indicated that
the first would be at the District line
at Chevy Chase Circle. He also said
that there was need for a connection at
the Rhode Island avenue District line,
where the area is fast increasing in
population which drags down the pres
sure in that section, served by the
Hyattsville plant, However, this section
also is helped out by supply line from
the plant at Burnt Mills, which serves
all of the area in Montgomery County,
except Gaithersburg and Washington
Grove, which are served by wells in
Gaithersburg. The two other connec-
tons proposed are at the Seat Pleasant
District line and at Silver Spring.
Dam Is Considered.
1t had been proposed to increase the
Burnt Mills plant by the construction
of dam above the Colesville road, ON
the Northwest Branch, but it was point
ed out that when land was being sought
the owners wanted too much money
and the project has been abandoned.
Mr.. Duckett said that the site alone for
tnlS Oam would nave C0SC ABOUT $2UU ,UUO.
AS result of the Abandonment of
this project, studies now are being made
by Mr.. Morse of the prospects for using
both the Patuxent and Seneca rivers.
He pointed out that when the sanitary
district was started, these streams SEEM
ed a great distance, but with the phe-
nomenal growth in the two counties, a
water supply system on these two
streams was not so far away. He also
added that the sanitary district would
have to eventually provide its own water
supply, and these two streams were
studied with that in view, and the
Washington water was only to be held
available for an emergency pending the
development of the larger Maryland
plants.
The Patuxent and Seneca projects
now are being thoroughly studied, and
Mr.. Morse indicated that there would
be final conclusion on the matter
probably in the Fall, when plans would
be instituted for the starting of at least
one OF them. The sanitary district now
consumes an average of 100000 gallons
OF water a day, running higher in cold
and extremely warm weather.