Evening star., 1947-02-28
Potomac Basin
Pollution Report
Being Studied
Research Committee
Outlines Effects,
Suggests Remedies
By Jones BirchfieId
Stor Stoff corrssponden.

SsSAAAeAS AeAVCA dAAQ ltS lliUutdIlcS- u
listing types Of pollution, their ef-
feet on the streams and possible
treatment measures was being
studied here today by the Inter-
state Commission on the Potomac
River Basin.
The report was prepared by the
commissions Research Committee,
under the direction of E. T. Roet-
man of the American Viscose Corp,
1t Is nontechnical and is designed
to give laymen in the basin a pic
ture Of the Potomac's pollution
problem. The commission is ex.
pected to publish the report for dis.
tribution.
Describing the effects of pollu-
ton, the report points out certain
organic matter entering a stream
In small quantities may prove bene-
ficial In furnishing food for aquatic
life.
1t adds. however, when large
quantities of organic matter are
discharged into a stream, oxygen Is
removed from the water through
bacterial action; heavy material
may settle to the bottom, smother
ing growth and poisonous discharges
may affect directly aquatic life.
Fibers Smother Fish.
Fine, suspended materials. such
as fibers. may smother fish by STOP
ping up their gills, while oil and
grease discharges will float on the
surface or lodge on plants and the
shore and kill or harm aquatic life.
In many cases." the report states,
wastes may be beneficial to streams
IN that they counteract or react
chemically with material already
present, tending to purify the water.
or to inhibit decomposftiegr4 Of ma
terials already present.
1T can thus be seen that every
problem of pollution abatement be-
comes very complex, so that no two
cases are identical. All statements
regarding waste treatment must,
therefore, be of q general nature,
with the individual treatment prob
lens left to the experts.
"It is the purpose of this report
to indicate only In a general way the
possible effects, and its remedial
measures which can be taken-so as
to acquaint the public with the
problems facing them in connection
with the control and abatement of
pollution.
Canning Wastes Considered.
AS an example, the report discusses
conditions arising from the operas
ton OF canning plants, not COM
monty thought by the layman to
create a pollution problem. Can
ming wastes, the report points out,
are made up of small particles of
the products canned, such as skins.
seeds, hulls and juices.
These solid wastes form sludge
beds in the stream and rob the
water of oxygen when they decay.
Under conditions of extreme pollu.
ton, bad odors will develop.
Prevention Of pollution from cam
nerles, the report states, may be
accomplished by screening off the
fine solids for use as stock feed or
to be dumped on the land by the
use of settling basins, chemical pre-
cipitation, biological treatment of
settled liquids on sand beds, or
disposal of settled liquids by pump
ing into lagoons for evaporation or
to farm lands for irrigation.
In a message to the commission.
L. Harold Sothoron, commission
chairman and Maryland State SEN
ator from Prince Georges County.
reaf1rmed the body's belief that It's
program can be accomplished sue
cessfully through persuasive and CO.
operative efforts, rather than by
compulsion.
Program for Abatement.
Senator Sothoron, Senate major
ity floor leader, was prevented from
attending the commissions quarter.
ly meeting by the press of legislative
affairs. His message was read by
Vlce-chairman Raymond v. Long.
director Of the Virginia State Plan.
ming Board.
The commissions program is pri-
marily one Of the abatement az
pollution" Senator Sothoron said.
But in considering the problems
involved. in such a program, MANY
other natural resources programs
are involved. It is necessary. there
fore, for the commission to consider
in small way the development and
conservation of all the resources of
the area"
Listing the commissioners accom-
plishments, Senator Sothoron said
that, during the war, attempts were
made to interest municipalities and
industries that were without waste
treatment facilities at least to pre-
pare plans for these structures.
AT present." he said, most of
these municipalities and industries
nave either prepared plans or have
them IN the process of preparation.
And the commission believes that
when such construction is COM
pleted, most of the badly polluted
areas in the basin will be eliu-+
mated.
Frederick Plans Action.
1T is then our purpose to carry
forward a program OF pollution
abatement in those areas where the
problem Is not now Of such serious
nature, but Is undesirable from both
IN aesthetic and economic view.
point"
w. r. Walter, Frederick City en-.
sineer, told the commission yester-
day plans for enlarging the city's
present sewage treatment facilities
now are being made. The city
treatment plant Is overloaded and
only primary treatment is possible.
Wastes are dumped into the Monoc.
acy River, which enters the Potomac
N the Poolesville vicinity of Mont
yomery County.
Commission members explained
that during certain seasons pollu-
lion in the Monocacy River resultS
IN potential threat to the Dis
trict. While the Districts water
supply is protected by filtration, it
was said, high bacterial count in
,he Potomac above Washington
threatens the safety of bathers..
cancers and fishermen. Adequate