Evening star., 1950-06-21
Arlington Told
ToHurryWith
Sewage Plan
Water Control Boord
Moy Issue Special
Order to County
By The AsseSieisd Press

RICHMOND, Va. June FL
Arlington County today had .
directive from the State Water
Control Board to present a def
mite proposal" by August Is for
building expanded sewage treat.
ment facilities.
This colud mean the board will
issue a special order-having the
force Of a court order-direc ing
the county to take such steps as
the board feels reasonable and
practicable.
That was the result of q special
hearing held here yesterday and
the board made 1t plain 1t wants
concrete information on what the
county intends to do about poll
luton abatement in Four Mile
Run. the Potomac River and other
State waterways.
Later in the day. the board
authorized the city Of Norfolk to
add sewage from a city subdivision
to its discharges into the Lafayette
River.
Charlottesville Given Stay.
The city Of Charlottesville was
granted until September is 70
complete working plans and
specifications for sewage treat
ment plant on the Rivanna River.
Arlington County Manager A. r,
Lundberg was told by Delegate E.
Blackburn Moore. board chairman,
that he could not see where the
county had taken any action that
couldn't be postponed-moved on
and on and on"
Mr.. Lundberg. who with r. M.
Writ represented the county. told
the board plans have been ap-
proved for enlargement OF the
present sewage treatment plant
from capacity of S million to 20
million gallons per day. Mr.. Writ
is Arlington's director Of public
service.
THE latest estimate OF the cost
of this plant is So million" Mr..
Lundberg stated, To obtain these
funds, he said. 1t will be necessary
to hold referendum on a bond
issue.
Mr.. Lundberg said the county
hopes the bond issue can be sub
mitted to the people for vote in
the spring of 1851. He explained
that the county is trying to pro-
ceed in AN orderly manner" and
declared it wanted to present a
bond referendum to the people
which would be approved.
Problem of Financing.
On May 18, when it called the
hearing. the Water Control Board
said its records showed Arlington
is discharging partially treated
and raw sewage into the Potomac
and other State waters.
Mr.. Lundberg admitted the
county's responsibility. but said
the problem is primarily "one Of
financing"
Others who appeared at the
hearing were Harold A. Kemp.
director of sanitary engineering
for the District Of Columbia. and
Edwin r. Cotton. director Of the
Interstate Commission on the Po-
tomac River Basin.
Mr.. Kemp predicted that. unless
steps are taken. the Potomac will
become "a cesSpool In about six
years." =
ITO prevent this. and to i'm.
prove on the rivers present con-
dition. 1t is essential that all COM
munities In the area formulate
and execute a program for the
treatment OF their sewage" hs
added.
Serious Condition"
In planning its sewage treat
ment facilities and having as its
objective realistic and reasona-
BILE use Of the river" Mr.. Kemp
said. the District of Columbia
has assumed that Virginia would
provide a similar degree Of treat
ment Of its sewage as that planned
for Maryland and the District OF
Columbia"
Mr.. Cotton said the Interstate
Commission is concerned with
the serious condition of the river
in the Washington area and does
not believe that it can be properly
corrected without close co-opera.
ton between various political sub
divisions, in providing equal
reduction in the pollution loads
discharged into the river"
He added:
I'VE believe that it Is q fair
assumption that too much time
has already elapsed with regard
to development of a plan for solv-
ing this difficulty. We believe.
however, that it would not be
inappropriate for us to recon-
mend that immediate considera-
ton be given to a study Of the
problem with a deadline date
fixed for the completion of such
a study. before final action lead
ing to construction of treatment
plants is ordered by the Water
Control Board"