Evening star., 1949-04-21
Soil Technicians
Open ParIey on
Basin Pollution
Kemp Discusses Cost
To Forms and City
By Silt Deposits
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- 3i--Agraealture leaders-Fedegai
and State soil tecfsnscaans~ ecn-
@rvationaxts and pl&sn dirt fATsn-
ers-coneened here to-day to dls-
ei4xs the relation az sol derletsess
10 pollution In the Potomac River.
The one-day meeting devoted
to problems Q. soil conservation
is being sponsored by the Lard
Committee os the interstate Gem
rnlSsaon on the Potomac River
Basin. II IL tire nra such sathsr.
ms called by O river basin com
pact group, The commission o
regular spTtng sessions will be held
tomorrow and Saturday.
Addressing the meeting thls
morning. Harold A Kemp, Dis
triet sanitary engineer. described
soii pollution as costly 30 both
landowners on the headwaters
and TO communities down stream.
Sees Saving for ID. G.
Adequate soil conservation IN
the basin can reduce the tuFeadity
Of the river by over rs per cent. +"
Mr., Kemp said. II this is done.
the city Of Washington wlii be
able TO reduce considerably itn
cost OF treatment Of the water.
Savings in alum. lime and
chlorine. Mr.. Kemp continued.
would total $4,000 q year as
present costa and consumption:
savings In dredging the reservoir
would save another si2 900 . year.
and savings in cleaning filtsrs at
least $1,000, Exclusive Of capital
charges, the savings would ee
over sSo.oo q year
Il want 10 emphasize. Mr..
Kemp said. that the farmer wall
profit materially in making these
savings available 70 the people Of
WASHINGTON"
Mr.. Kemp also said reduction
In the turhidity OF the river would
save an estimated s6o. 900 O year
In costs Of dredging the river bot.
tom 10 keep open the navisation
channels.
River Bottom Raised.
AT least 90 per cent Of the
silt carried by q stream Ia de-
posted on the river bottom" Mr..
Kemp said, The bottom Of ths
Potomac Ia being raised. and
sometimes extensive dredging
must be undertaken. Even now
we must remove about iso. 900
cubic yards OF silt each year from
the river Ia the metropolitan area
to maintain navigahie depths In
the river further downstream.
Pointing To the advantages al
sofl conservation In reducing
foods. Mr.. Kemp aaid adequate
.soil-conseryation practices ups
stream probably would lower ths
peak flood stage In Washington
lhy I foot. and would reduce ths
stage by . feet at Point OF Rocks.
Soil pollution. he continued. has
filled many harbors. and unicss
expensive dredging operations are
maintained. Washington will loss
~ value as port,
Cites Examples on siit,
He said Bladensburs. Md. on
the Eastern Branch Of the Ana
costa River. Piscataway. on Pis-
Getaway Greek In Southern Mary
land and Dumfrses. on ouantieo
Creek In Virginia are examples
OF what happens when silt 10 ur-
checked.
Urging that the kiudse from
sewage-treatfnent plans be re-
turned TO the soil. Mr.. Kemp said
q new plant being planned for
Blue Plains will dry sindge 70 .
per cent water content. This
win make siudae economical far
use on the land within $50 naiies
| OF Warrington. The siudge. he
said. probably viii sell for about
81 q ton.
Or. Hugh II. Bennett. chief Of
the Soil Conservation Service OF
the Agriculture Department. kaid
erosion produced silt In streams
causes tremendous damage TO 10
major classes Of public and pfi-
sate enterprises
These he listed a. public health,
public and industrial water sup
ply. fisheries. valley awriculturs,
drainage. irrigation. food control,
river commerce. recreation ard
electric power production
| Only Way ef CentseI.
The only way In which watsi
pollution from silt can be eon-
trolied effectively 10 By the adop-
ton Of soil and water conseYsa-
ltion practices. applied In &C.
cordance with the needs and
capabilities OF the land" DT,
Bennett said.
This means that strip eroppsns,
lterractnk. good pasture develop
fnent and management. proper
woodland rnanaeement. isnd-sise
changes and various other speeife
land management measures which
have proved TO be successful Ia
the control Of col efosson and
water r4anor must be applied 70
the Land by those who use tsas
land.
This In exactly what 10 being
done by farmers tn soil conserva.
ton districts co-operatinx with
the Sol Conservation Service.
Pays Mig Dividends.
This work. narrower. 10 pay.
| ing handsome dividends" DR.
Bennett a&sd. IT is paying re-
turns not only 10 the farmers
but 70 people in their own ard
other communities In which fhsy
trade. or who process og handle
their products
IT contributes materially "a
the protection Of such pssnise e.
sentiais as CUR wAtsrh fs usesns
better schools. churches and other
Icummu1sty enterprises And u u
yNssgrvssssm further Sfxtfssfa44 In fsaa