Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-20
Upper Potomac Interceptor
to Stop Raw Sewage Dis
charged at Four Points.
DISTRICT AND MARYLAND
co. 'lISSION PUSH PLANS
Waste Dumped Miles Above City
Still Will Make Stream I'm
safe for Bathing.

Definite steps have been taken by ].
=: Gordon, sanitary engineer of the
District, in cooperation with the WASH
ngton Suburban Sanitary Commission.
To eliminate several of the most serious
sources contributing to the pollution of
the POTOMAC. Even then the river will
not be free of contamination; it will
still be unsafe for bathing because of
the wastes dumped into it at points
many miles above Washington.
;. But the District is going ahead with
lCs plans, and the Maryland Commits
sion is doing the same, not because of
an Ethiopian dream that some day the
waters OF the Potomac may be restored
TO their pristine purity, but to prevent
further needless pollution and to pre-
vent the contamination from reaching
a state where it would constitute q
menace to the health of the city.
The Upper Potomac interceptor, now
under construction, will upon its COM
pletion, result in removing pollution
coming into the river in large volumes
IN the form of raw sewage discharged
at four different points This inter.
ceptor is being constructed along the
north shore of the Potomac from Rock
Creek and the District line. It is de-
signed to intercept all sanitary drain
age IN this area sloping toward the
river.
Reciprocal Agreement Entered.
The new interceptor also will provide
an outlet for future Maryland sewage
now discharging into the Potomac Just
west of the District line from Edge
moor, Battery Park, portion of Chevy
Chase. Drummong, Somerset and
Friendship Heights. A reciprocal agree.
ment has been entered into between the
fnk cy,.L.
urban Commission, whereby the Mary
land sewage may discharge through the
District sewers, and connection viii
be made upon completion of the inter-
ceptor.
Mr.. Gordon explained that this In
terceptor will clarity the Potomac all
the way from point beyond the Dis
trict line to Rock Greek, another source
of pollution which is to be eliminated
to a large extent.
There are about 20 sewer outlets in
the District that discharge into Rock
Greek - storm water sewers, which
empty raw sewage into that stream
only during times of storm. Yet the
creek is constantly polluted, but that
pollution-between 95 and 90 per cent
OF it--according to Mr. Gordon, comes
from Maryland
The Rock Greek watershed contains
about $4,000 acres of land, only 10 per
cent-or 1000 acres--of which is with
IN the District, 26 per cent within the
jurisdiction of the Suburban Sanitary
Commission, and the balance is under
control of the Maryland State Board of
Health. In this latter area there are
many small communities which dis
charge their sewage into Rock Creek
ana VIII continue to do it for many
years to come.
Chevy Chase Completes system.
The Suburban Sanitary Commission.
however. IS gradually eliminating sew
age now being discharged into Rock
creek from the area Immediately ada
cent to washington. Just recently the
pollution coming into Rock Creek from
Maryland was lesssned considerably hy
the completion of the Chevy Chase
sewage system, which is connected with
special line of the District system.
henslngton is now the only nearby
community that dumps its sewage into
ROCK Greek, and plans are under way
10 extend the new system to Kensing-
ton. This will improve conditions ma
terlally, 1t was said. but 1t will not
eliminate contamination in Rock Creek
until every community lying in the area
not under Jurisdiction of the Suburban
Sanitary Commission ceases polluting
Tile stream.
Like Rock Greek, the Anacostia River
also Is polluted. Sewage is discharged
INTO 1t by the District at two different
pointS-one near Kenilworth avenue
and Sheriff road and the other in the
vicinity OF the District line. In addi-
lion, this river Is carrying of sewage
from Bladensburg, Md, and other
neighboring communities.
Sewer to Be Eliminated.
One of these sanitary sewers the
largest OF the two discharging into the
Anacostia, Is to be eliminated soon
with the completion of the Upper Ana
costa main interceptor being constructs
ed between Benning Road and the Dis
Irlct ine This interceptor will not
only intercept sewage from the Dis
trict, out is designed to be available for
an tnose communities lying in Mary
land close to the District line-Silver
Spring, Takoma Park, Mount Rainier.
Bladensburg, Hyattsville. Riverdale, Col
lege Park, Berwyn and other smaller
communities, which now discharge crude
sewage into the upper reaches of the
The Maryland sewage from these conn
munltles may discharge into the Dis.
trict by virtue of the agreement en-.
tered into between the Commissioners
and the Suburban Sanitary Commission.
The commission, however, Mr.. Gordon
said, has not definitely decided whether
TO use the District system for disposinr
OF its sewage from this area or to erect
sewage treatment and disposal plant
Of its own. Whichever plan is followed,
however, the Anacostia' will be freed of
much OF It's existing contamination.