Evening star., 1938-08-14

This is . highly commendable
campaign which has the enthusi-
astic support Of the civic forces Of
the National Capital.
With the aid of P. w. A. funds
q modern sewage disposal plant
was constructed at Blue Plains,
which gives primary treatment
removing so per cent of the solids
in suspension. This plant cost
about $4,000.000, Of which 80 per
cent was an outright grant from
the Federal Government. The
original idea was to include in this
construction an additional plant
for secondary treatment at an ad-
ditional cost of $4,000,000. For
many good and sound reasons the
latter plan was discarded and sub
sequent events have shown the
wisdom Of delaying this additional
expenditure.
As q matter Of fact. the present
plant giving primary treatment to
the city sewage Is more of bene-
At to points on the river below
Washington than in the waters OF
the District. The complete plant
as originally projected would not
have improved the waters OF the
District either for it would have
done nothing to relieve the Ana
costa River, Rock Greek and the
Potomac River above Georgetown
Of the sewage those streams are
carrying from nearby Maryland.
The immediate need to the Dis
trict so far as cleaning up the
river on the water front and in our
great playground. Rock Creek, is
for nearby Maryland to provide
sewage disposal plants of its own
or build sewers to connect with the
District system. The District sys-
tenn can take care of some Of this
load, but not all.
The Bladensburg area decided
definitely some years ago that 1t
would provide its own plant and
subsequently the District did not
construct as large trunk sewers
adjacent to that section as would
have been required for the addi-
tional load and did not construct
its disposal plant for this purpose.
The section up the Potomac in the
vicinity of Glen Echo. it is under
stood, also intends to install an
independent disposal plant
The District contributes no poll
luton to Rock Greek between
Piney Branch and the District
line At Piney Branch and a few
other points below there is an
overflow of some sewage into the
creek at times of heavy rains. This
overflow is from the combined
storm water and sanitary sewers
and is necessary evil of the COM
bination system.
There are some who are out of
patience with the Commissioners
because Of their disposition to de-
lay the construction of the s4.-
100000 addition to the disposal
plant for secondary treatment. 1t
is claimed that the Commissioners
should get hold of P w. A. money
on a 55-45 basis and proceed at
once.
This Is no simple problem to be
solved easily. There is great
divergence of opinion as to what is
the best system for secondary
treatment Different interests ad-
vocate different methods. If the
District Commissioners had rushed
in and constructed the activated
sludge system. as was done by
some other communities. the Dis
trict taxpayers would now be loaded
down with considerable addi-
tional amount in royalties to the
owners Of the patents. The Su-
preme Court decided the validity
of these patents and some Of the
other cities are paying plenty as a
result.
1t appears that the next move
is up to our neighbors of Mary
land, for 1t apparently would do
little or no good If the District,
at a heavy cost. would purify its
sewage down to SO per cent If the
neighbors would continue to dump
their filth into Rock Creek, Ana
costa and Potomac Rivers.
The Federation Conference
should be able to bring about a
practical coordination of effort
which will clean up these streams.
This done. or we'll begun. 1t will
then be time for the District to
begin figuring on the most ideal
secondary system to be added to
the efficient primary system now in
operation.