Evening star., 1952-06-20
Sewage May
Total Of
36Picnic Areas
Rock Creek Parks
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Barred for Summer

Barred for Summer
Nineteen picnic areas were
closed and warning signs were
posted today in Rock Creek Park
as the main trunk sewer running
parallel to the creek spilled con-
tamination over the grounds.
The picnic spots closed are
along Beach drive between Mill
House Ford, just north of Mill
tary road, and the District line
Seventeen other picnic area.
probably will be closed.
National Capital Parks sale
that, with large quantities of raw
sewage overhowing several man.
holes from the overloaded Rocl
Creek Park main trunk sewer. the
closed picnic areas will not be
safe for use this summer or next
officials warned the public tt
keep children from wading in the
affected section. Picnic permit.
lalready issued are being Cancelled
by telephone or special delivery
mail.
William H. Cary, jr.. head of the
Bureau of Public Health Engi-
neering, pointed out the danger
of CASTRO -enteric diseases fos-
tered by open filth and flies
Amoebic dysentery is a possibil-
ity, he said. Typhoid is a less
likely, but conceivable hazard. he
added.
Greek Use Meets Opposition.
: District officials plans to allie
viate the situation include one
proposal expected to meet opposi-
ton from Federal and District
health officers. It would pipe sew
age out of the line directly into
Rock Creek.
Harry T. Thompson, acting su-
perintendent of National Capital
Parks, said that Office has been
guided in similar matters before by
health officials. Their view has
been that it is preferable to leave
"a restricted area contaminated
than to pollute the whole lower
creek valley and necessitate clos
ing all picnic areas.
The parks Office is in position
to block the move.
Park police have been instructed
to warn visitors away from the af-
tfected areas. All movable equip
ment has been taken away. It is
the largest picnic space in the
park and could accommodate hun
dreds of people.
Beach drive is the heaviest traf-
fic artery of the park.
Mr.. Thompson said he expected
today to receive recommendation.
from health officers for sanitary
measures. They probably will in.
clude spraying DDT to kill file
and other disease carriers, plowin.
under the ground periodically ane
lining to hold down odors.
Mr.. Thompson also is trying tt
relocate as many of the aban'
Idoned picnic sections as possible
THE park has from so to 70 alto
Igether.
Preventative Measures Taken.
j During the last several months
1 the District has attempted to stol
the sewage overflow from th'
manholes by raising them from
3 to Z feet. This, however, ha
built up so much pressure in tn.
lsewer that officials fear a major
breakdown.
Already there are four break!
in the line within a distance o,
about 1000 feet. One is under
the ground on the bride path
where there is a stretch that ha!
stayed muddy for several weeks
Other breaks, believed to hav,
occurred since Monday, are wher'
lthe sewer crosses small streams
running into the creek.
Nearly every day, the sewage
comes out Of the tops of th'
manholes and flows across thu
lground into the creek. Mr.
Thompson estimated this volum,
lat about 20 gallons a second from
lone manhole alone.
The District plans now to lowe
1.-THE manholes again to avert {
Imajor failure of the sewer. Thi,
Twill send more sewage overflow
Iout.
Within two months, there will
be an additional load on the Rocl
Greek trunk line, since arrange
ments have been made to tax,
care of sewage from Rockville.
Doubles Original Plans.
The District sewer system, o
which the Rock Creek trunk i
Ipart, was designed on recommen
dation of a Sanitary Engineerin,
Board appointed by Presiden
Harrison at the direction of Con
Igress in 1889.
At that time. the design wa
biased on the needs Of . popula
ltion Of 100000 persons. The sys
item now handles q population
lover the million mark.
The District extended It's system