Evening star., 1951-01-31
Sanitary Agency
Is Proposed for
Fairfax County
Authority Would Be
First Under New
State Legislation
By Mory Lou Werner

SlCdGtOI VI dIl authority 10 eX-
pand and operate water, sewer,
drainage, garbage and trash COL
lection services in Fairfax County
was proposed today by the coun-
tvs sanitary engineer, James j.
Corbalis, jr.
Outlining his plan before a spe-
cial meeting of the Board of
Supervisors, Mr.. Corbalis said he
thinks establishment of an au-
thority offers the best solution to
Fairfaxs mounting sanitation
problems.
If a Fairfax Sanitation Au-
thority is set up, the county will
be the first political subdivision
to use the Virginia Water and
Sewer Authorities Act adopted by
the State Legislature last year,
Mr.. Corbalis said.
No Taxing Authority.
The proposed authority would
operate similarly to the Washing
ton Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion in nearby Maryland. The
Fairfax body, however. would not
have taxing powers as does the
Maryland commission and all
operations of the Fairfax au-
thority would be financed by
revenues from services. It would
be administered by a five-mem-
Der board appointed by the super
visors.
Mr.. Corbalis said creation of
a Fairfax authority should not
interfere with any plans that may
be developed for joint sewage
disposal program in nearby Vir-
ginia.
I'm fact, it might facilitate
Fairfax's participation in a joint
program" he added, explaining
that an authority would have the
right to decide the best method
of disposing of county sewage.
Asks Prompt Action.
Calling for prompt action on his
proposal, Mr.. Corbalis declared:
"The problem to me is of such
a serious nature that a solution
must be effected Immediately.
think creation of an authority is
the answer"
He said the authority could
issue revenue-producing bonds to
buy existing sanitation facilities
and build new ones. Voters would
not be required to pass on such
bond issues. A check-rein on too
; many expenditures would be
maintained, however. through the
State Corporation Commission,
which would have to pass on all
rates and fees proposed by the
authority.
An authority, said Mr.. Corbalis,
would give Fairfax single agency
empowered to cope with the sani-
tation problems in any area of the
county. There would be uniform
rates for sanitation services
throughout the county, he said.
and the way would be cleared to
dovetail all such services into one
comprehensive plan.
Describing the present situation
in Fairfax County, Mr.. Corbalis
said sanitation services now are
provided-sometimes haphazardly
through various means. About
20 per cent of the population uses
the public water systems of Falls
Church, Arlington, Accotink.
Herndon, Vienna and the town of
Fairfax.
Private water systems serve an
other As per cent of the popula-
ton. These include the large
Alexandria Water Co., Mclean
Water Co., Fairfax Hydraulics.
Annandale Water Co. and several
dozen small water systems in
stalled by private builders to serve
subdivisions. The Alexandria
water Co.. which has a large.
new reservoir at Occoquan. Va.
is the only private system that
does not rely on wells.
Sewage Service Estimated.
The sanitary engineer estimated
40 per cent of the county's resi-
dents now are served by publicly
owned sewers. The largest public
system is that of Sanitary District
No. l. which serves about $4,000
people. There also is a sewer
system in Sanitary District No. 2,
which includes only about $50
families in the Accotink area.
Other public systems serving small
parts of the county are those of
Falls Church, Alexandria, Arling-
ton. Herndon, Vienna and the town
OF Fairfax. About 5 per cent of
the county population is served
by small private sewer systems,
like the one installed by builders
in Holm Hall Village.
The only trash and garbage
disposal now is provided by private
collectors, said Mr.. Corbalis. Prac-
tically no satisfactory method of
providing adequate storm drain
age is available, he added.
These existing services and
facilities, asserted the sanitary
engineer, are not meeting the
county's growing needs and the
situation threatens to hamper
future development of Fairfax
County.