Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-03-18
Sewer Problem
Laid 10 Lack
OF Check Valves
Falls Church Housing
Project Drainage
Called Menace

Sewage disposal problems in re-
Gently constructed Falls Church
housing projects were blamed today
on the absence of check valves on
basement drainage pipes and the
inability Of the present system to
carry surface drainage in addition to
its sewage load.
In the Greenway Downs develop
ment, sewage backs into Easements
and overfloWS manholeS after everv
rain, 1t was said, creating a health
menace which officials said threatens
to result in serious epidemics if not
remedied
John A. K. Donovan, Falls Church
attorney, said WestbrOok. Inc. con-
tractors for the project, had pro-
Nlded drains in Easements Of houses.
but had failed to install check valves.
AS a result, he said. when sewers
became flooded water and sewage
back into the houses.
Mr.. Donovan said these check
valves had been left off drain pipes
IN direct violation Of both CITY and
State plumbing codes.
Denies Code Viola ton.
Robert Mcintosh, mortgage broker
who represents the Westbrook firm
IN financial matters, denied that the
flrm was guilty of code violations
Mr.. Mcintosh pointed out that the
Falls Church plumbing code. as well
as the State code provided that cit
les could require installation of
check valves. He added. however.
that valves had never been required
by the city.
Mr.. Mcintosh said that the West
brook firm was relieved as defend
ent in suit filed by residents of
Greenway Downs against the con-
tractor and the city to compel action
on the sewers. He said the con:
tractor was excluded as a defendant
IN the suit at preliminary hearing
before Circuit Court Judge Walter
Mccarthy at Fairfax.
Mr.. Donovan said experts hired
by the city and by citizens of
GreenWay Downs have agreed. after
a survey of the sewer lines, that the
present disposal system is adequate
Tor sanitary purposes, but is not
adequate to carry the large amount
of surface drainage that now is
finding its way into the system.
= Mr.. Donovan said ARRANGEMENTS
now are being made by Falls Church
to Join the new Fairfax County
sewer being completed as an FWA
project.
Burns N. Gibson. former Mayor Of
Falls Church, said he believed the
sewer problem would be remedied
in a month or six weeks. He said
the city would join the new county
sewer line as soon as a county SAM
tary district is organized.
Alexandria Not Threatened.
Meanwhile officials of the Alex
andria Water Co. denied that the
city water supply was being threat
eneo by sewage washed into Tipps
Creek near Falls Church, and thus
into the reservoir.
Ihey said there has been practi-
oally no increase in pollution of the
water supply and, as a consequence,
no increase in the rate of chlorina-
ton. A new filtration plant was re-
Gently constructed to provide ade-
quate supplies of water in case of
an increase in the number of users.
Officials said water tests con-
stantly are being made and added
that adequate facilities were avail
able to protect the city water supply
In any eventuality.
Carl Budwesky, Alexandria CITY
manager, said he had recently con-
suited Howard Richards, manager
of the water company, and had been
assured that pollution seeping into
the reservoir from the vicinity of
Falls Church was negligible at the
present time.
He added, however, that in the
event Of rapid growth in the Falls
Church area, the pollution problem
may become serious unless steps are
taken to relieve the sewer lines