Evening star., 1951-03-16
Arlington Rejection
OF Joint Sewage Plan
Indicated by Board

suWaS0sS~ ~ ~VUsW
The Arlington County Board
last night indicated that it plans
to withdraw from a proposed
regional sewage disposal plan.
With some reservations, three
board members agreed that the
county should proceed with a
$2,617. 900 sewer system expansion
program, including an addition to
the disposal plant. approved by
the voters last November. The
board will reach a final decision
on March "a.
Earlier in the day, Arlington and
the three other Jurisdictions
studying the regional proposal
Fairfax County, Alexandria and
Falls Church-were asked to
authorize a $4,000 joint survey
OF their sewage disposal problems.
The request was made by an
Interim Committee on Sewage.
named by the four areas last
December. The committee sug-
gested that the Jurisdictions ask
the State Water Control Board
to extend headlines it has set or
may impose on the communities
because Of pollution resulting
from untreated sewage.
Delay Questioned.
Robert w. Cox, chairman of the
area committee and a member of
the Arlington Board, told his COL
leagues on the board last night
that he Is mot sure whether
Arlington should delay for at least
six months-the minimum time es-
timated for the study" He ques-
toned whether the county could
defend" itself from attack by the
State Board.
In the next eight or nine months,
Mr.. Cox said, increasing costs
might Offset any savings" that
could be achieved by regional
action. --...
Board Member Daniel A. Dug
an said the county should sell the
bonds" approved in November and
go ahead and start building" !"
Mr.. Dugan termed Alexandria the
reluctant dragon" in sewage treat
ment in the area.
IF Arlington begins to build.
then Alexandria will be soundly
thrashed by the State board and
be forced to take some action, +"
Mr.. Dugan said. Lets build ours
and let Alexandria build theirs" /"
Chew Favors Action.
A third board member, F. Free
land Chew. said he had expressed
himself some time ago similar
to the way Mr.. Dugan has just
spoken" Mr.. Chew said that
Arlington. which already has a
sewage treatment plant, is further
ahead than any of the Others"
Alexandria has no treatment
plant. Fairfax County has issued
So million in bonds for a sewer
improvement program, including
construction of a disposal plant.
Falls Church sewage is disposed
of through. the Fairfax and
Arlington systems.
The interim committee set out
to determine whether the COM
munities could save money
through joint planning and con-
struction of disposal facilities.
Among the suggestions for treat
ment were separate disposal
plants, perhaps with a plan pro-
viding for serving areas in other
Jurisdictions when expedient; one
or more regional plants in North
ern Virginia. and pumping of
sewage of all four communities
under the Potomac River to the
District plant at Blue Plains for
treatment.
CD Plan Endorsed.
Another regional program. civil
defense. received unanimous in
dorsement Of the board. The
county will contribute it's pro
portionate share" of expense of
the regional office.
The board held that continual
ton of the area defense council
and the regional headquarters is
necessary for the general well
fare and safety of the citizens of
Arlington, should a catastrophe
occur"
BY its action, the board ac-
cepted a condition placed upon
$500 grant made by Gov.
Battle for regional civil defense
operations. The Governor stressed
that, after July /, the four juris-
dictions will have to pay the ex-
penses of the regional Office.
~