Evening star., 1950-11-19
North Virginia
Sewer, Wafer
Authority Urged
Arlington Board Asks
Study of Whether Plan
Would Save Money

Creation of Northern Virginia
regional water supply and sewer
authority was suggested by the
Arlington County Board yesterday
after it learned $2.617 900 in sewer
bonds cannot be of the self.
liquidating type.
A resolution seeking formation
of committee to investigate the
regional plan was adopted on. mo-
ton of Robert w. Cox. He said
the proposal was not intended to
affect enlargement of the sewage
disposal system for which bonds
were approved in a recent refer
endum.
The proposed committee would
include two members each from
Arlington and Fairfax Counties,
and the cities Of Alexandria and
Falls Church.
Mr.. Cox asked that the COM
mittee report on the following
points:
/. Whether significant econo-
mics in construction, maintenance
and operation can be effected
through the creation of such an
authority.
2. How the operation of such
an authority might affect the costs
of water supply and sewage dis
posal to users.
8. The advantages and disad-
vantages of financing these facili-
ties on a revenue bond basis.
4. What might happen to the
present investment of the individ-
ual political subdivisions in water
supply and sewage disposal facili-
ties if a regional authority is
formed.
S. What general controls over
the operation of a regional au-
thority should be maintained by
the participating local political
subdivisions.
6. What bearing, if any, recent
local referendums on sewage dis
posal and sewer systems bond is
sues may have on the matter Of
establishing regional authority.
7. All other matters which have
a bearing on the proposition Of
establishing a regional authority.
Mr.. Cox and B. Alden Lillywhite
were selected to represent Arling-
ton on the committee Copies Of
the resolution were to be sent to
the other communities affected.
Mrs. Florence Cannon. who sec
onded Mr.. Cox's resolution, said
the main purpose of the study
would be to see if an authority
could operate the Arlington plant
more <cheaply as well as those of
other adjoining Jurisdictions. She
said creation of such authorities is
authorized in the Virginia Water
and Sewer Authorities Act of 1850.
The proposed agency could issue
revenue bonds, which. Mrs. Can
non said, would be preferable to q
general Indebtedness.
It might be possible, she con-
tended, for regional authority to
buy the Arlington disposal plant
by issuing revenue bonds. Then
the county would be relieved of its
financial obligation.
Bond Type Not Specified.
The referendum on the issue did
not specify which type of bonds
should be issued. Mrs. Cannon
said the board now has been ad-
vised by its bond attorneys that
the issue must be against the gen.
eral credit of the county because a
petition requesting the referendum
was drawn under Sanitary Dis
trict Act. It is still planned, how
ever, to retire the debt only with
sewer service charges, she said.
Fairfax County already has sold
SO million bond issue for a
sewer system in Sanitary District
No. /. including construction of
a disposal plant. Alexandria has
announced plans for a referen-
dunn next year to finance con-
struction of a regional disposal
plant.
Mrs. Cannon said that although
the regional authority was pro-
posed primarily because of finan-
cial considerations, it also could
study the possibility of a regional
disposal plant.
To speed plans for enlargement
of the existing plant, Mrs. Can
non introduced a resolution asking
for new estimate of construction
costs. The estimate will be used
to determine the amount needed
to begin construction.