Evening star., 1949-08-21
StateCrackdown
Possible if Vote
On Sewers Fails
Virginia Moy Bon
Connections if Foirfux
Area Rejects Bonds
By Mory Lou Werner

NOGCl III odIlIC1lS AAoVi NV 3No. I
of Fairfax County.
They must decide whether the
county should issue that amount
of bonds to finance sewage pro-
gram for the 30-square mile strip
adjoining Alexandria, Falls Church
and Arlington County.
More than the ordinary bene-
fits of sewer Improvements hinge
on the August 80 bond issue ref
erendum, however. because OF a
State law prohibiting additional
untreated sewage from being
emptied into the rivers.
The s3,O0O,O0O in bonds would
pay for $1,105.0 900 sewage treat
ment plant for the district. The
rest of the money would be spent
as follows: s460,000 for purchase
of the Federally owned Holmes
Run trunk sewer: $4,000 for ac-
uuisition of several strategic pri-
vate sewers; $1.13S,O00 for exten-
sion of existing sewer lines;
s20,500 for maintenance and oper-
alton equipment; $l35,000 for in
terest during construction, and
s24,500 for fees and other costs.
Alternative Violates Law.
If the bond issue fails to pass
the Holmes Run trunk sewer woule
continue to empty into the Pc.
tomac River and all new connec.
tions would violate the State water
control law prohibiting additiona
raw sewage.
So far. the water board has ig'
nored the many new connections
that have been added to the
Holmes Run sewer since its con.
struction. County officials be-
lieve the water board has beer
lenient because the county has
been working toward a solution te
the problem.
If the bond issue fails, however
there will be no way the county
can show progress toward sewage
abatement. Fearful of the $500
daily penalty that can be i'm
posed for violation of the State
water control law, the county
board of supervisors has indicated
1t would prohibit any further ex-
tension of sewer service in the
sanitary district.
The supervisors at one time i'm
posed a 30-day ban on sewer ex-
tensions after they were warned
by the water board about, pollu-
ton. The ban was dropped. how
ever. when the county was in a po-
sition to show that plans were
under way to finance a treatment
plant for the area.
Plant Available at $460,000.
Another important feature OF
the bond issue is that the county
could acquire the $4,000 600
Holmes Run sewer from the Fed
eral Government for $3.50, 900. Ac-
cording to County Sanitary Engi-
neer James j. Corbalis, the Gov
ernment is required to sell the
facility. If the county cannot buy
the sewer, it might be sold pri-
vately. The county then would
have no control over sewer service
charges. or have any say about
sewer extensions.
The bond issue would make pos
sible immediate construction OF
A miles of new sewer lines to serve
communities that now rely chiefly
on septic tanks. In some areas
that have developed rapidly septic
tanks have proved inadequate.
particularly in Groveton where
overhowing tanks have created a
health menace.
In addition to Groveton, other
areas that would obtain sewer
service Immediately include Shreve
road Oldewoode, fremont Gar
dens, Gordon's Addition to Falls
Church, Igloo Village, Devonshire
Gardens, Greenway Downs, Sleepy
Hollow. Buffalo Hills, Ravenwood
Staffordale, Holmes Run Park,
Rich-E-Land, Malbrook. Court
land Park, Powell's, Bailey's Cross
Roads, Washington Forest. Semi
nary road, Fort Ward Heights.
Duke street at the Quartermaster
Depot, Amor Heights, Cameron
Park, Wilton Woods, Telegraph
road, Valley View, Memorial
Heights. Beacon Hill road, Temple
View. Fairview. Penn-Daw. Poag
Heights, Kings highway, Blunt's
lane and New Alexandria.
Other Areas Slated to Benefit.
Other areas not listed in the
immediate sewer extension pro-
gram would get sewers as soon as
a surplus begins to accumulate.
To finance the $3,000,000 pro-
gram, $3.50 monthly sewer serv-
ice charge would be made on each
house connected to the sewer. This
is 50-cent reduction of the pres
ent 50 monthly fee charged by
the Federal Government. In ad-
dition. a tax levy of 20 cents per
500 Of assessed valuation would
be imposed on all real estate in
the sanitary district. The county
expects to reduce this rate as
sewers become available to more
users.
A fee Of SO per front foot, with
q maximum of $500 and a mini
mum of $3.50, would be charged for
each new connection. This would
not affect homes already con-
nected with existing sewers. The
present permit fee of IS for each
sewer connection would be con-
tinued.
Based on this proposed financ-
ing plan, Mr.. Corbalis estimated
the average home in the sanitary
district already connected to a
sewer would have to pay about S24
annually in sewer charges and
added taxes.
The cost of making a new con-
nection, according to Mr.. Corbalis,
would average about $455. This
H. H.