Evening star., 1937-03-20
RIVER POLLUTION
FIGHT ORGANIZED
Potomac Valley Conference
Created to Seek Aid of
u. S. and States.

A permanent Potomac Valley Pollu-
ton Conference was created late yes
terday at the conclusion of an all-day
session called by the Washington
Board of Trade to promote a plan Of
Federal and interstate cooperation in
abatement of stream pollution within
the 14,000-Square- mile area of the
Potomac watershed
The immediate objective of the new
group, as expressed by formal reSolu-
ton, Is the establishment of the Po-
tomac River conservancy district as
proposed by the National Resources
Committee. President Roosevelt and
Congress we're requested to take the
Initiative in establishing the demon
stration district and provide suffi-
cient financial aid to carry out its
purpose.
That purpose, the resolution stated,
was 'the removal of the present un-
desirable, inSanitary and dangerous
pollution of the Potomac River, an
interstate stream, where there now
exists serious dangers to health and
life which are rapidly increasing with
the density of population"
Health Departments to Aid.
The health departments of Mary
land, Virginia, West Virginia and
Pennsylvania, with the cooperation OF
the District, will exert their influence
to bring about the remedial measure.
An Executive Committee was ap-
pointed yesterday to effect the details
of organizing the new Potomac Valley
Conference, membership in which will
be open to all persons interested in
pollution control Original members
comprise the State delegates attend
ing yesterdays session.
DR.. R. H. Reilly, Maryland State
director of health was name chair
man of the Executive Committee. The
other members include George l.. Hall,
acting chief engineer of the Maryland
Health Department.; Morton Waller
stein, chairman of the Virgini: State
Planning Board; E. S. Tisdale, chief
sanitary health engineer of West Vir-
tary engineering in the District Of
Columbia; M. o. Leighton, local con-
sulting engineer; c. J. Bruce of Cum
berland, Md, and Prof. w. B. Holton
of American University, representing
the Izaac Walton League
The conference will meet again on
call.
Pollution problems in the four States
and the District were discussed by
speakers yesterday afternoon, follow
ing luncheon in honor of the Ma
tional Capital Park and Planning
Commission.
Plant in Operation Soon.
The sewer disposal plant Wash
ington will be placed in operation in
a few months, Gordon said, in report
trict. This will provide for the re-
moval of so per cent of solids and 80
per cent of biochemical oxygen de-
mand, he said, the plant being built
so as to provide more complete treat
ment when needed.
Gordon said that with the ultimate
consummation of various intercepting
and relief sewer systems under con-
struction, pollution in Rock Greek
will be restricted to an occasional
highly diluted overflow.
The State of Maryland, according
to Mr.. Hall, chief health engineer,
has estimated 'sewage-treatment prof.
ects above Washington costing SO ,800,-
600. Projects are completed, he said,
at Cumberland, Brunswick, Williams
port, Emmitsburg, Frederick and West
minister. AS a result, he pointed out,
the estimated severed population has
been increased by 1871 900.
The cost of industrial waste plants
to correct serious pollution from mines
and factories above Washington would
be $l,750,000, he suggested