Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-21
Large Portion of Contamina-
ton of River Within D. C.
Could Be Eliminated.
NEW SYSTEM WOULD COST
MORE THAN 100000
No Menace to Health Seen at
Present Time-Survey Will
Be Made.
Can the Potomac River be freed of

Can the Potomac River be freed of
its pollution?
Yes, says ]. B. Gordon, sanitary en-
gineer of the District, but it would
require the expenditure of millions of
dollars and take many years.
A large portion of the contamina-
ton within the limits of the District,
Mr.. Gordon said, could be eliminated
Dy the erection of a sewage disposal
plant. This plant would chemically
purify the Districts sewage, now dis
charged into the river in a raw state
near Giesboro Point
Such plant, however, would not
bring about the ideal. The pollution,
Mr.. Gordon said, would continue to
exist until all Maryland and Virginia
communities bordering on the Potomac,
Tar above the District, likewise erect
sewage disposal plants.
Even then, Mr.. Gordon explained.
contamination would continue to a
certain extent and some of that would
come directly from the District due to
the construction of its sewerage system.
There are two classes of sewage sys-
tems-sanitary and storm water. There
are few sewers in the District which
handle storm water exclusively, but
the sanitary sewers are built large
enough to handle storm water in the
time OF a storm. AS a result during
periods OF heavy rains, the storm wa
ter, together with some sewage carried
with 1t, would be discharged into the
river without passing through the
sewage disposal plant.
Would Cost SIC, OOO, 600.
Construction of a sewage disposal
plant, Mr.. Gordon estimates, would cost
approximately $10,00O,OOO, while its
maintenance would take about SAC, 900 a
year. Every bit Of sewage from the Dis
ulcV watershed, as we'll as that origi-
mating In the area served by the Mary
land Suburban Sanitary Commission, he
said, could be chemically treated and
purified before being discharged into the
Potomac.
AS result. Mr.. Gordon pointed out,
tne contamination could be materially
reduced, and there would be a marked
improvement in the condition of the
river. Yet, he said, it will not be pos
slpie to eliminate all of the pollution
without the concerted action of the
States bordering on the Potomac and
their cooperation in the establishment
of sewerage treatment plants at all
sources contributing sewerage at points
beyond the District.
Suburbs Are Cooperating.
The Maryland. Suburban Sanitary
Commission already has undertaken a
program in cooperation with the Dis
trict, Mr.. Gordon explained, to alleviate
present conditions by connecting parts
Of the sewage system under its control
with the District system and thereby
eliminating some of the pollution that
comes into the Potomac Just beyond
the District line and through Rock
Creek. Sanitary engineers and other
ofncials in Arlington County, Va, also
are considering plans, he said, to treat
the sewage that is discharged into the
river on the opposite side of the river.
And with the actual steps taken by the
District to reduce contamination with
the construction of the Upper Potomac
and Upper Anacostia interceptorS, the
sanitary engineer declared the condi-
ton of the river should be far better
In the next few years than at present.
Erection of a sewage disposal plant,
however, according to Mr.. Gordon,
would further improve conditions by
purifying all of the Districts sewage.
There has been no definite plan to
construct such plant, but whatever
action is taken with respect to its es-
tablishment, it is indicated, will depend
on the outcome of the comprehensive
survey to be made of the sewerage Sys-
tenn In the metropolitan area by the
United States Public Health Service.
This study is to be undertaken at the
request of the District Commissioners
and the National Capital Park and
Planning Commission and will show the
extent of river pollution, its effect and
how it can be eliminated or further
reduced.