Evening star., 1952-06-21
Commissioners 10 Ask
|S1.2 Million 10 End
Park Sewer Overflow
Money Would Pay for New
Line and Study Of Entire
System Along Rock Creek

The Commissioners are prepar-
ing a supplemental appropriation
for $1.2 million to remedy
the sewage overflow problem which
has made a section of Rock Creek
Park unsafe for public use.
Plans have been started for an
auxiliary line to cost 81 million.
The additional 100000 will be
used for a hydraulic study Of the
whole Rock Creek sewer system.
The trouble lies in the Rock
Creek interceptor sewer running
roughly parallel to the creek.
There are four breaks in a 1000
foot section built in 1912. Raw
sewage is spilling from its man
holes over the park.
National Capital Parks has
closed off 10 picnic areas along
Beach drive between Milk House
Ford, just north of Military road.
and Sheriff. drive. Seventeen
others are threatened.
/. Committee Asks Report.
The House District Committee
has requested a report on the
situation and what is needed.
William P. Gulledge, acting coun-
sci of the Senate District Com
mittee, also called the District
Building yesterday for informa-
ton on the problem.
Members of both committees
are keeping an eye on the sit
uation and several have indicated
willingness to support fund re-
quests.
Senator Johnston, Democrat, of
South Carolina expressed the view
that District officials should have
done something about the Situa-
tion long ago, rather than wait
ing until the pipe began to fail.
He said members of Congress
do not have time to make their
own Investigations Of District
matters. The problem. he said,
should have been presented to the
lawmakers.
Sewer Division officials are pre-
pairing a report on the problem
for submission on Monday to
Brig. Gen. Bernard L. Robinson.
Engineer Commissioner. Assist
ant Engineer Commissioner
Thomas j. Hayes, Sd, plans to
seek a meeting on Monday or
Tuesday with top District appro-
priation officials on Capitol Hill.
First Overflow in 1941.
Gen. Robinson told his fellow
city heads yesterday the first
overflow in the section occurred
In 194l. At that time, the man
hole was raised. Later another
was raised. and in the last three
years all have been built up from
3 to feet.
This method of attempting to
halt the spillage rather than un-
dertaking a new line was a "cal-
risk" Gen. Robinson said.
He explained that construction Of
a new line in the critical area had
been planned in the sewer divi-
sion program for 1856.
He declared that the "cumula-
tive effect of low Federal pay
ments to the District have much
to do with the bad fix our sewers
and all Of our capital outlay is in"
It will take about four months
to complete the plans for the new
sewer line, and from IL to IA
months to build it.
Major Failure Feared.
Meanwhile, the city plans to
lower the manholes again. Build
Ing them up has so increased the
pressure in the sewer that a major
failure is feared.
The city also would like to pipe
sewage out Of the line directly
into Rock Greek. This plan runs
into objection from the parks Of
Ace and District health officials,
who say 1t would have the effect
of concentrating pollution in the
creek.
The creek already is polluted
and has been for many years.
But above and below the restricted
lrea where the raw sewage Is dow-
ing over the ground. it is con-
(See SEWER, Page A-3.)