Evening star., 1947-05-24
Two States Map
Upper Potomac
Pollution Curb
PIons Formulated
By Maryland and
West Virginia
~ K.1
By jones BirchfieId
Star s,aH Correspondent

u,
& cAcAPoN STATE PARK, W. Va,
May 24-The Interstate Commission
on the Potomac River Basin has
completed the basis for long,
range, cooperative program be-
tween Maryland and West Virginia
designed to relieve pollution Of the
upper Potomac River.
Members Of the West Virginia
Water Commission and the Mary
land State Health Department and
ex-ofhcio members Of the new Mary
land Water Pollution Control COM
mission that will come into exist
erice June /, laid plans for future
meetingsof technicians representing
each State.
The meeting was the first held be-
tween members of pollution agencies
In commission member States. Eff
fectiveneSs Of yesterdays meeting
was lessened to some extent by the
fact that Maryland's commission is
not yet In existence, but representa-
tives of both States held that the
way was cleared for the first time
for future joint action.
DR.. r. H. Riley, director of the
Maryland Health Department, will
become an ex-officio member of the
new control agency. Other ex-
oficio members will be DR.. r. v.
Truitt, head of the Maryland De-
partment of Research and Educa-
ton; John E. Clark, director Of the
State Tjdewater Fisheries Commis-
sion, and Ernest A. Vaughn, State
game warden. Three additional
members are to be appointed by
Gov. Lane.
Similar Steps Demanded.
Representing West Virginia were
Kenneth S. Watson, engineer for
the State Water Commission; Jack
son Savage, Charleston, commission
member, and E. A. Seaman, biologist
for the State Conservation Commis-
sion.
Mr.. Watson said municipalities
and industries on the West Virginia
side of the river would show little
inclination to correct pollution un-
less they were assured Maryland
was taking similar steps.
with the exception of Martins
burg our municipal pollution is
slight" he said. Our people feel
that Maryland industries and the
city of Cumberland are the main
offenders. We feel we will get
greater results on our side of the
river by a cooperative program
that will include the Maryland
side"
DR.. Riley explained that Mary
land has long been interested in
correcting conditions in the upper
basin, but added that certain handi-
caps have yet to be overcome.
DR.. Riley said, Cumberland would
like to build a sewage treatment
plant, but 1t is economically impos-
sible at this time. First, Cumber-
land must consider its water supply
and protection from flood damage
he said.
The two State groups agreed COM
pletion Of the Savage River dam
already provided in the Army engi-
neer's flood control program Is
highly important in the secondary
effects it will have in the abatement
Of pollution in the North Branch
Of the Potomac. The dam will sup
ply uniform summer water flow,
thus lessening the pollution load
during dry months.
Extent and Types Sought.
Mr.. Watson said West Virginia
plans to sample the Potomac this
summer to determine the extent
and types Of pollution. Plans will
be worked out in future meetings
for cooperation In this project by
Maryland.
Edwin r. Cotton the commission
engineer secretary, said he hoped
to arrange future meeting be-
tween pollution control agencies ir
West Virginia and Virginia. He
pointed out that the two States
have much in common, both in the
Potomac basin and along other
rivers common to both States.
A research program that may re.
suit in large savings by municipal
tiles in the treatment Of sewage
wastes was described by DR.. Char
les E. Rem, professor of sanitary
engineering at Johns Hopkins Uni
versity.~
DR.. Rem explained the program
may show how certain municipal
tiles where stream conditions are
conducive to natural aeration might
reduce materially their costs Of
waste treatment.
1--WE know that aeration basins
will work." DR.. Rem said, "but we
have yet to make quantitative
studies of their effectiveness. This
we hope to do this summer"
Dean G. r. Orton Of the College
of Agriculture at West Virginia
University said the Forest Service
was starting a soil conservation
program in the Potomac basin.