Evening star., 1941-03-26
Patuxent Dam
Near Brighton
Is Proposed
Commission Plans
understandable
Water Supply Line


An application of the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission to
develop it's water supply was taken
under advisement by the Maryland
Water Resources Commission this
afternoon after a hearing in HyattS-
vile.
Chairman S. S Steinberg con-
Quoted the hearing at which details
of the sanitary groups plan to draw
on the PatuXent River to increase the
amount of water available in nearby
Maryland to keep up with popula-
ton growth were disclosed
The commission now has a pump
ing station at Mink Hollow, near
Ashton, capable of pumping 100000
gallons a day from the Patuxent
into the Northwest Branch which
now is the principal source of water
in the sanitary district of Prince
Georges and Montgomery Counties.
Dam Is Proposed.
Plans of the commission for fur
ther development of the Patuxent
for additional water supply involve:
l. Construction of dam and res
ervoir near Brighton at cost of
about 81, ,388,800.
2. Construction of a filter plant
and pumping station near the Willis
School, about mile above Laurel.
8. Construction of a 48,0O0-foot
filtered water supply line from the
Laurel plant to the present water
system at Branchville, total cost of
the latter two projects being ST.
167,200.
Legislation authorizing issuance of
$2,500,000 in bonds to cover the cost
of the development is pending at
Annapolis.
Cannot Meet Requirements.
In a comprehensive report setting
forth need for the expansion of the
present system, Harry r. Hall, chief
engineer of the commission, said the
large amount of building in the last
three years has caused such an in
crease in the population and water
consumption that the present water
supply can no longer meet the entire
requirements in dry year.
He said the dam, filter plant and
pumping station now used by the
commission at Burnt Mills has a
capacity of about 100000 gallons
a day. The dam proposed at
Brighton could supply 24.7 millions
a day in the driest year so far
recorded, he said, and in addition
would provide better regulated
stream flow.
Points to Rising Need.
Mr.. Hall told the commission that
II unlimited water could be obtained
from the Washington system there
would be no reason for apprehension
at present about the adequacy OF
the sanitary district supply" The
commission has emergency connec-
tions with Washington.
The Capital is experiencing
building boom, also, Mr.. Hall noted,
and the same is true of Arlington
County, Va, which draws its water
supply from the District of Colum-
bia. For those reasons reliance
no longer can be placed on the Dis
trict water system for securing any
appreciable amount of supplement-
ary water" Mr.. Hall said.
Fears Hot, Dry Spell.
eff we are fortunate enough to
avoid exceptionally hot. dry sum-
mers In 1941 and 1912 the existing
water supply facilities probably will
be able to meet most of the demand,
but if hot, dry spell is encountered,
the commission probably will have to
adopt drastic restrictive regulations
covering the use of water for lawn
sprinkling and other similar uses,
In ORDER that all parts Of the sani-
tary district may be permitted to
secure uninterrupted service.
The necessity of putting this
project (the PatuXent dam and filter
plant) under way as quickly as pos
sible is becoming more apparent
each day and whatever time can be
saved now in getting work started
will 60 long way toward preventing
the possibility of requiring restric-
tions in the use of water in 1912"
P. G. Ligon, property owner near
the proposed dam site, asked the
commission whether the reservoir
would be available to residents for
boating and fishing and if adjoining
land would be available for resi-
dental development
Mr.. Hall told Mr.. Ligon the area
would be restricted.
Another property owner, w. F.
Wilson of Brookville told the COM
mission he would fight any effort to
make him move.
Mr.. Wilson was told the commits
sion would probably have to acquire
his property.
Mr.. Steinberg announced the
Water Resources Commission would
be glad to receive questions by mail
before making a decision,