Evening star., 1952-09-24
Alexandra Ordered
To Explain Delay
On Sewage Plant
By Mary Lou Werner
Stcv Stuff CORRESPONDENT

RICHMOND. Sept. 24.-The
Virginia State Water Control
Board today ordered the City Of
Alexandra to f1le two reports
within so days on its progress In
construction Of sewage facilities.
Alexandria ofiicials appeared at
q Water Board hearing here yes
terday to explain why sewage
treatment plant was not in opera
tion by last July !, as ordered by
the Water Board.
A fine for violation of orders
may be imposed by the Water
Board. The board announced that
it was. continuing Alexandria's
case. however. and requiring the
city to make one report In so days
and a second In 60 days.
City Attorney v. Floyd Williams
OF Alexandria told the Water Board
the City Council is setting up an
authority to finance and admins
ter the sewage disposal system. He
said creation Of an authority was
recommended by the city's bond
advisers.
Rate Studies Made.
Mr.. williams said engineers
have been instructed to bring
plans and specifications for the
sewage disposal system up to date
SO construction bids can be In
vited as soon as the authority gets
|organized and floats a bond issue.
Rate studies have been made to
show how much the authority
must charge to retire the bond
issue. he added.
MIR. Williams told Of the regional
sewage disposal survey In which
Alexandria participated with Ar
lington. Fairfax and Falls Church.
The latest survey report suggested
that Alexandria and Fairfax could
save money by arranging Joint
use Of the proposed new Alex
andria plant.
"When the real facts are ex-
amined In detail, the city feels
1t is apparent that. for the past
two and q half years. every effort
has been made to solve this prob
lem as speedily as possible, with
out being premature. financially
and otherwise" said Mr.. VIII
liams. "It would seem that Alex
andria'S effort in this direction
has been more than justified In
that surveys recently submitted
show a savings to Fairfax and
Alexandria Of approximately $2.s
million.
"This figure does not even in
clude the saving in operating costs
And most important Of all, thu
plans provide for a complete anC
desirable system for years *
come and is not . temporar,
solution"
/ Mr.. Williams said he failed {,
see where any advantage woult
be gained by harsh action agains
the city at this time.
II E.. Blackburn Moore, chairman
of the Water Board. said b
thought the city's record con
fiicted with some of its promises
Delay Deplored..
"But we don't want to argu,
that here today" said MIR. Moore
'"The important thing is to ge
the treatment plant built. 70,
have had plans since 1946. Their
has been plenty of delay
The chairman and other Wate
Board members asked Mr.. vii
Illiams how soon he thought al
Authority could be created, bond
issued and construction started.
Mr.. Williams said the authority
llordinance could be ready TO
council action within a month
barring delays In the State Cor
Iporation Commission. The ordi
nance could be finally adoptet
within one more month. he said
and 1t would take about two NOR
months to sell bonds.
Il $50 by February / the cit.
should be In q position to star
Iwork?" asked Mr.. Moore.
1--WE certainly hope work coule
be under contract by Februar,
l." Mr.. Williams replied.
II Thomas K. Niles Of the Greele!
g. Hansen engineering firm
which designed Alexandria's pro
posed So million sewage disposa
system. said the necessary revi'
sions Of plans could be accom-
by that time.