Evening star., 1949-04-23
Action by Towns
ToCurbPotomac
Pollution Urged
Commission Cites
Methods to Finonce
Treatment Plonts
~ ln~se k.rrkSssIA
By Jones eirchfield
ssur Sscsf Cogrsspensen4

BEDFORD SPRINGS. Pa. April
23.-The importance OF COM
munity action TO a cleaner Po-
tomac River was emphasized here
today by the Interstate Commis-
sion on the Potomac River Basin
Pointing to the Importance Of
a program Of municipal waste
abatement to the overall picture
Of pollution control. the commits
sion issued q bulletin describing
the methods that may be used by
small communities in planning
and financing sewage treatment
plants.
In addition to industrial wastes
that have reduced the Potomac in
some parts to the ''cesspool stage"
and the pollution by eroded soils,
the commission pointed to the ter
rife load of sanitary wastes car
ried by the river. Few commu-
mites within the basin, 1t was
stated. have adequate treatment
facilities.
Problem Acute ut Cumberland.
Cumberland. one Of Maryland's s
principal cities, dumps its entire
sewage load untreated into the
Potomac. adding to q pollution
problem already acute in that
area. While other cities also are
offenders. some now are planning
treatment facilities.
Martinsburg. w. Va. 1t was stat
ed. is planning a city plant that
will treat all sanitary and indus
trial wastes for the area. Fred
erick. Md. which now has a
primary treatment plant. is plan
ming complete treatment facilities.
as is Winchester. Va.
In the Washington area. it was
stated that Virginia communities
are investigating the possibilities
of a single plant to take care Of
the sewage from Arlington and
Fairfax Counties and Alexandria,
d. C. Treatment Considered.
In this area, 1t has been pro-
posed that studies be made to de-
termine whether Virginia sewage
could be pumped under the
Potomac to be treated by the Dis
trict plant at Blue Plains. This
might result In considerable saw
ings to both the District and the
Virginia communities.
L. A. Danse. supervisor Of ma
terials and processes for General
Motors Corp. told the commission
last night that industry has a
selfish interest" in pollution con-
troll.
I'VE find the increasing shortage
of water for industrial purposes a
grave problem" Mr.. Danse said.
I'VE feel that industry has a
selfish interest in contribution to
cleaner streams. We believe 1t is
industry's duty TO return the water
to streams just as clean as 1t was
when it was taken out for indus
trial purposes. After all. the fel-
low downstream will want to use
that water. too"
Mr.. Danse said General Motors
has spent more than $4,000. 900 on
waste treatment facilities within
the last few years.
Demonstration Voted.
In addition to sponsoring the
Monocacy River development pro-
gram, launched by the Frederick
County Chamber Of Commerce
the commission also voted to
establish a demonstration on Ope-
quon Creek, which flows from
Winchester. Va, into the Potomac
The commission explained that
the Monocacy Valley, which con-
tains few industries and there
fore does not present a special
problem in industrial waste con-
troll, will be primarily a land use
project.
On the Opequon, however
heavy industrial pollution on a
small watershed will offer means
of quickly gauging results Of an
extensive control program.