Evening star., 1946-07-28


The Interstate Commission on the
Potomac River Basin is slowly advanc-
ing toward its goal-the demonstration
to the Nation that a cooperative pact
between several States can solve the
problems of huge river basin as well,
and more democratically, than can an
autonomous river authority.
Members of the commission, compris-
ing representatives of the States of
Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia and
Pennsylvania, the District and of the
Federal Government, admit that prog
ress has been slow since the commission
was formed-largely through the efforts
of the Washington Board of Trade
back In 194l. But on the eve of the
commissions fifth annual meeting
August 8 and 9 at Camp Richie, Md
they point to pollution abatement prof.
ects in the basin that have been ad-
vanced during the war as an indication
of smoother progress in the years to
come
Despite the restrictions placed on all
public projects during the period fol-
lowing Pearl Harbor, number of sewage
treatment plants were installed by mu-
inequalities and at industrial plants
within the basin area There also was
some progress toward the partial abate-
mate of industrial pollution during this
period.
Many Projects Carried Out.
In the area adjacent to Washington.
for example, sewage treatment plants
were installed at the Army Air Forces
base at Andrews Field, at the Chelten-
ham School for Boys near T. B., in
lower Prince Georges County, and at
Fort Washington.
In addition to these, pollution abate-
ment facilities were installed at the
Catoctin tMd) recreational area, Camp
Detrick at Frederick, Md; at the Amer
lean Viscose Corp. plant at Front Royal
Va; at the Fairchild Engine e. Airplane
Corp. at Hagerstown, Md, and at the
Halltown (W. Va Paper Board Co.
Throughout the war the commission,
working in co-opera ton with the vari-
GUS State health departments, has en-
couraged the planning of future munich
pal sewage and industrial waste treat
ment plants. Plans have been COM
pleted, or are nearing completion, for
these additional facilities.
Most important among these new
plans, and one that will mean most to
Washington residents in that 1t will cor
rect to large extent the polluted con-
dition of the Anacostia River. is the pro-
posed agreement between the District
and the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission whereby all sewage from
nearby Prince Georges and Montgomery
Counties will be pumped to the District
disposal plant at Blue Plains. where
it will empty into the Potomac River
after complete treatment.
This agreement, expected to be con-
sumated soon, will remove from the An
acostia most of the partially treated
wastes now being discharged there
Other Plants Proposed.
Plans also have been completed for
additions to existing disposal plants here
and in Arlington and Alexandria, and
for pollution abatement measures at
Harrisonburg. Waynesboro and Win
chester in Virginia
On a basin-wide scale, by far the
most important accomplishment of the
commission has been the formation, and
acceptance by the State members. of
minimum water purity standards for the
Potomac and its tributaries. These
standards are looked on only as guide
to water quality in the basin, and as
pollution abatement programs are car
ried out the standards may be raised
in any given area
Briefly, the water quality standards
divide the basin into four areas-water
that can be used for municipal supply
with no other treatment than chlorina-
ton, such as water from pure noun
tain streams; areas in which the water
will permit bathing and all recreational
activities and support the higher types
Of fish and plant life: areas in which
the water can be used for municipal and
industrial purposes after complete
treatment, and areas in which the water
will be only pure enough to avoid
creating a nuisance. and will be ex-
pected to support the lower forms OF
fish life and be used for some recrea-
tional purposes.
The first classification would include
the extreme headwaters of the Po-
tomac's tributaries, but the exact area
involved has not yet been charted. 1t
is believed, however, that about 5 per
cent of the basin would fall within this
classification.
The second classification would in
clude large areas along tributaries of
the Shenandoah River in Virginia, the
Cacapon River in West Virginia and
the upper Potomac in Maryland, as we'll
as lesser tributaries in Virginia, Mary
land and Pennsylvania while the third
classification would include the indus