Evening star., 1950-09-23

''&''%" neer for thu
Mr.. Kemp. District of Co.
lumbia. He spoke at the annua
meeting of the commission here.
Mr.. Kemp said he had reference
In particular to the six-mile
stretch of the Potomac from Hains
Point in Washington to Fort Foote
in Maryland. He said the condi-
ton of this part of the river is q
greater threat to welfare Of the
area than the rivers condition in
the uke-Cumberland area.
Section Has Deteriorated.
Unfortunately, Mr.. Kemp said
this section of the Potomac has
deteriorated far below safe mini
mum water quality. He said he
actually feared septic condit; ms
in this part of the river, which
would make the river an open
sewer with it's foul water destroy
ing all aquatic life except bacteria.
Our commission has adopted
q very reasonable minimum sani-
tary criteria for this reach of the
river" Mr.. Kemp said. "It should
be maintained above a nuisance
level and be able to pass safely
migratory fish"
Mr.. Kemp said that if the river
near Washington is allowed to
continue to deteriorate the dam
ages to navigation and shore in
stallations will be greater than
the cost of operating treatment
facilities.
IT feel that I would be remiss
in my duty If I failed to call the
attention of the people Of the
Washington metropolitan area to
the present critical and near
dangerous condition of the Po-
tomac River" Mr.. Kemp said.
The Potomac River in the
Washington area, Mr.. Kemp said.
can assimilate a pollution load
equivalent to a population of
ATS. 900 people and maintain itself
in a suitable sanitary condition
during average minimum summer
flow.
Treatment Plant Capacity.
The Districts present primary
treatment plant, Mr.. Kemp said,
removes 80 per cent of the pollu-
ton from about $4,000 people,
of which $4,000 live in Washing
ton, 10000 live in Maryland and
10000 are transients.
The efhuent from this plant,
then, he said, is equivalent to the
pollution from over 611,000 per-
sons, or more than the river can
safely assimilate.
1.-THE picture is much blacker
If we consider the entire metro
politan area" Mr.. Kemp said.
"Its present population is about
100000. which includes $4,000
transients.
After treatment now rendered
by all agencies, the pollution dis
charged into the river is equiva-
lent to a population of 1,110,00O,
which is 2.3 times the load the
river can safely assimilate.
This has depressed the river
to it's present critical condition.
Today, we should be removing
68 per cent of the pollution from
all sewage in the Washington
metropolitan area instead of the
20 per cent which we do remove. "
Huge Growth Expected.
Mr.. Kemp said that even with
the removal from Washington Of
the "supersensitive" agencies, the
area will continue to grow until
the population is expected TO
reach 19 million by 1880. When
this point is reached, he said, IS
per cent of the pollution must be
removed if the river is to be main
tained in a safe condition.
Mr.. Kemp indicated that the
District is moving to meet the
problem. Engineering plans have
been approved between the Dis
trict and the Washington Subur-
ban Sanitary Commission in
nearby Maryland for the treat
ment of the Maryland sewage at
the District plant.
To meet the extra demand
Mr. Kemp said, the District now
is constructing additional sedi-
mentation and digestion tanks at
an estimated cost of $1,545,00O.
While this will be adequate to
give primary treatment to all
sewage originating on the east
side of the Potomac, Mr.. Keml
said, the degree of treatment Will
be less than half of that now re-
quired.
Further Expansion Planned.
Further, he added, Congress has
appropriated funds for preparing
plans for a secondary aeratior
plant which ultimately will cost
about So million.
Construction at this plant, h
explained, is expected to start il
1852, and it will be built at tn
rate of 81 million year. 1t vii
not be effective, however, unit
about SIS million has been spent
he said.
While the Virginia Water Con
troll Board and governing bodie
of communities in Virginia ar
aware of the conditions and ar
beginning to take action, MI
Kemp said, the fact remains tina
no major abatement facilities hav
been constructed in Suburba
Virginia since before World Wa
II.
Mr.. Kemp praised the editoris
policy of The Star for it's "out
standing service to the Washing
ton metropolitan area and to tn
entire Potonac River WaterShe