Evening star., 1947-12-18
State Approves
Treatment Plant
For Arlington
Water Control Boord
Clears PIons;; Low
Interest Rates Cited
BY james BirchfieId
Sfar Stoff corre.pondsnt

RICHMOND, Va, Dec Ia
Arlington County today has the
Virginia Water Control Boards an
proval OF a proposed new sewage
treatment plant, along with the curt
suggestion that money may be bor-
rowed at very low interest rates"
The boards action here yesterday
was unanimous in approving plans
for the proposed treatment plant
that would correct, to a large extent,
present pollution in Four-Mile Run
near the National Airport,
The financial advice came from
Board Chairman E. Blackburn
Moore, Winchester, who pointed out
his home city has taken advantage
of low rates in financing a similar
project.
A. T. Lundberg, Arlington County
manager, and c. L. Watkins, Alex
andria city engineer, appeared be-
fore the board to answer a complaint
by National Airport officials that
untreated, or partially treated,
sewage from the two Virginia COM
munities is threat to the airport's
fire control system, which takes
water from Four-Mile Run.
d. C. Aides Heard.
Others appearing at the board
session included Harold A. Kemp,
District sanitary engineer, and
Ralph Furhman, in charge Of the
Districts sewage treatment plant at
Blue Plains, who answered COM
plants that sludge from the Blue
Plains plant that is taken to Lorton
for disposal is creating a nuisance
in Pohick Creek.
Mr.. Lundberg, who explained that
Arlington has outgrown its present
treatment facilities until almost
two-thirds of the sewage by-passes
the treatment plant and empties
into Four Mile Run untreated, said
he could make no predictions as to
when the county might be able to
construct an additional plant.
He said plans for a proposed
plant, to cost about 81 200, 900, had
been completed and sent to the
board for approval. 1t was at this
time that the board voted to ap-
prove the plans.
Following Chairman Moore's sug-
gestion of low interest rates, Mr..
Lundberg said he would not like
to make any predictions when a
bond issue for the plant would be
brought before the people, or what
the result would be-"
Mr.. Watkins said Alexandria is in
much the same position as Arling-
ton. Plans have been completed for
Ia treatment plant and interceptor
sewers that would eliminate all dis
posal into Four-Mile Run, he said,
but no plans have been advanced
for financing 1t. ..
/ Mr.. Watkins explained that, II q
bond issue were approved for con-
structing the plant, an additional
service charge would be necessary
for its operation.
II believe, within the next three
or four years." Mr.. Watkins said,
"the people Of the Virginia area will
demand that the Potomac River
water front be improved and beau
| tilted.
Airport Blamed In Part.
He explained that the airport also
is responsible for part of the con-
dition in Four Mile Run. When the
airport was built, the shore line was
changed, and this affected the flow
of the stream, he said.
Answering complaints that the
District is polluting Pohick Greek
by dumping sludge from its treat
ment plant at Lorton, Mr.. Kemp and
Mr.. Furhman said tests during the
last four years indicate the creek Is
no worse than any open stream flow
ing through an agricultural area.
Mr.. Kemp said that, while the
sludge pile Is a potential threat"
to the stream, it is not contributing
to pollution at this time.
THE District has launched q pro-
gram to improve its treatment facil-
ities,' Mr.. Kemp said. by 1851, we
will no longer ship sludge to Lorton.
In the meantime, We are contracting
to sell the sludge for agricultural
use. We have assurance that, dur
ing the next few years, more sludge
will be shipped away from Lorton
than we deliver there"