Evening star., 1946-08-10
Cleaner Potomac
AT D. {. Forecast by
Anti-PoI|ution Steps
By jones BirchfieId
Ssor StoH Correspondent


CAMP RITCHIE. Md. Aug. 10
The Potomac River as 1t flows past
should be cleaner
stream within the next year If pro-
grams outlined here at the fifth
annual meeting of the Interstate
Commission on the Potomac River
basin are carried out.
Commission members at closing
sessions yesterday were given the
assurance of representatives of in
dustry in the upper basin area that
these private concerns are prepared
to assume the responsibility of
cleaning up their industrial wastes.
Correction of industrial pollution
in the upper oasin area, plus steps
that are expected to be taken in
the Washington area during the
year ahead. should, according to
commission members, alleviate many
OF the local pollution conditions.
Helps Upper Stream.
While industrial pollution in the
Cumberland area of the Potomac
and in the Waynesboro area of the
shenandoah, one of the Potomac's
larger tributaries, does not in itself
greatly affect the condition of the
river in the Washington area. the
correction of these evils will help
improve the quality of the stream
as whole.
In the immediate Washington
vicinity, the direction of sewage bv
the Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission from the Anacostia
River to the Districts disposal plant
at Blue Plains will correct to a
large extent the pollution in the
Anacostia, while plans for increased
treatment facilities in Arlington and
Alexandria will aid in lessening
pollution from these sources.
The Fairfax County sewage system,
constructed by the Federal Works
Agency, now discharges raw sewage
into the Potomac at Hunters Creek,
below Alexandria. Original plans
for this system call for q disposal
plant in the Hunting Creek area,
and 1t Is expected that this even
tually will be constructed.
Urged in Flood Control.
At closing sessions yesterday, the
commission technical committee,
headed by E. A. Schmitt of the Army
Engineers, urged that the Army con-
slider pollution abatement in its
plans for flood control in the Cum
berland area.
The committee suggested that the
G. & 0. Canal dam at Cumberland,
which would be moved about 20 feet
up stream under present food con-
troll plans, be moved at least y mile
up stream, and lowered, or possibly
removed entirely.
1t was pointed out that this dam
at present forms sediment pond,
adding to pollution problems. The
committee said the Army will be
asked to study the possibility of re-
moving the dam.
The commission also was asked
to study the possibility of estab-
fishing sewage disposal school in
the basin area. This school, it was
said, would be operated by the COM
mission to bring the latest techinal
information on sewage treatment to
superintendent of treatment plants
and sanitary officials of municipal
tiles throughout the basin.
To Set Up Stations.
During the next year the commits
sion will establish approximately 20
water sampling stations throughout
the basin. These stations, to be
operated by the member States and
by industries in the area, will enable
the commission to determine at all
times the purity of the river.
E. R. Cotton, engineer secretary.
said that only by means of constant
checks can the commission chart an
effective program of pollution con-
troll These stations, he said, will
enable the commission to take i'm
mediate steps to correct unfavorable
conditions when they arise.
In closing yesterdays meeting,
Commission Chairman L. Harold
Sothoron. who is Maryland State
Senator from Prince Georges Coun-
ty, urged the commission to work
for an early appropriation by the
next Congress for the completion
of the Savage River dam. Author
ization to complete the dam at a
cost af 81 100000 was included in the
flood control bill signed recently by
President Truman.
Senator Sothoron told the COM
mission that every effort should be
made to educate residents of the
Potomac basin as to the desirability
of cooperative pollution abatement
and conservation measures.