Evening star., 1951-02-15
District 10 Aid
In Annanda|e
Water Shortage
Supply Will Be Sent
Vic FoIls Church;
Emergency Decreed


Annandale area of Fairfax County
today had assurances Of a water
supply because of a declaration Of
an emergency by the Virginia
health commissioner.
An arrangement whereby pri-
vate water company will receive
it's supply from the District of
Columbia, via Falls Church, until
a more permanent source is estab-
lished, was disclosed last night at
the Columbia Pines Citizens Asso-
citation meeting in the Annandale
Methodist Church. s.,..
The temporary expedient was
worked out by a special commit
tee headed by Edward P. .5ardley
working with representatives Of
the state and county health de-
partments and the State Corpora
ton Commission.
Serves 600 Families.
Mr.. Eardley said about 600 FAM
lilies now are connected to the
Annandale Water Co. system with
about 400 more scheduled to be
added soon.
The citizens association called
a special meeting to which rep
resentatives of IL communities,
from Springfield to Falls Church,
were invited in protest against
what was termed inadequate serv-
ice. More than 100 attended the
session.
Yesterday DR.. L. j. Roper, State
health commissioner, declared an
emergency exists, thus paving the
way for the area obtaining water,
for about 90 days. from the Dis
trict.
This was announced at the
meeting by J. Irving Smith, chief
utility engineer for the sec, and
G. r. Talcott, regional engineer
with the State Health Depart
ment. ..
Confer All Day.
These officials had been in con-
ference throughout the day to-
Igether with representatives of the
water company. DR.. Fred Heath,
Fairfax County health officer, and
E. A. Schmitt, chief of the Water
Supply Division, Washington
Iaqueduct, which is operated by
the Army Corps of Engineers.
Meanwhile. it was disclosed, the
Virginia Water Co., a subsidiary
of the Alexandria Water Co., is
building 3-mile-long, 24-inch
main from the vicinity of Spring.
field to Annandale.
E Arrangements have been made,
Mr. Smith reported. for the An
nandale company to draw on the
Viginla Water Co. as a perma-
nent source when the connection
is completed. The Virginia Water
.tCo. also has started construction
of a 2.5-million-gallon reservoir
which should serve the needs Of
the entire area for some time to
come. the sec official reported.
Assurances Given.
While no definite arrangement
is under contract, Mr.. Smith re-
ported, both companies have as
sured him of their intention to
carry out the plan.
Mr.. Talcott explained why an
emergency proclamation was nee
essary to meet immediate needs Of
the communities involved. Fol-
lowing numerous complaints Of
lack of water for cooking, bathing
and sanitary uses, the State and
county officials determined that
immediate relief was necessary.
Most of the residents who spoke
were bitter against the service
provided by the Annandale COM
pany. For the most part they
related personal difficulties.
William Mason, association pres
ident. told the State officials that
I'VE want a permanent fix this
time-not just another temporary
arrangement that will leave US
without water again in a few
days" He urged all present to
keep written record of the serv-
ice they obtain, adding that this
might be necessary to present
before the sec in possible future
hearings on rates.
Speakers complained that they
have been paying from $3.50 to
SIS month for water that often
wasn't there"
The Annandale company gets
its water from wells.
The present arrangement will
not affect plans for a sanitary
authority in Fairfax County, the
State officials said. This plan
calls for an agency to provide
water, sewer and garbage services.
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