Evening star., 1952-07-25
Upper Potomac
PoIIutionCo
Studied al Dam
Interstate Group
Visits Areas on
Sewage River
By james Birchfield
Sfor Stoff Correspondent

By jones Birchfield
stor ssoff Correspondent
CUMBERLAND, Md. July 25.-l
Members Of the Interstate Com
mission on the Potomac River
Basin inspected the Savage River
dam near here today to see at
first hand its effect on pollutionI
abatement in the upper river.
Officials explained that go mil
lion gallons Of water are being
poured into the Potomac each day
from the dam, which was COM
lpleted last spring. This is having
a marked influence on reducing
the effects of pollution in the
Luke-Cumberland area.
Commission members also vis-
tied two industrial plants to in
spect work being done by industry
to reduce wastes in the river.
At field meeting yesterday en-
phasis was placed on the COM
munity approach to correcting the
pollution in the Cumberland area.
Ralph E. Thurman, superin-|
tendent Of the District of Colum-
bia sewage treatment plant, said
both industry and municipalities
must decrease pollution If the
Cumberland area is to assume al
position of leadership in the basin.
Industrial Future Cited.
Mr. Thurman, who recently con-
Quoted a survey Of the upper river
area, said the river is now al
nuisance" and should be cleaned
up before industry can be ex-
pected to be interested in the area.
He said Cumberland should re-
Fduce its sewage pollution by con-
structing adequate treatment IA
cilities, and that the Celanese
Corp. of America and the West
Virginia Pulp & Paper Co. both
should reduce their waste load
now being dumped into the
Potomac.
He said the paper company
should reduce its pollution from
its present 10000 population
equivalent to an equivalent of a.
population of 10000, and that the
Celanese Corp. should reduce its
load from a 100000 population
equivalent to an equivalent of
900 population.
DR.. w. E. Moseley, member of
the Allegany County Metropolitan
Commission. said the polluted
Potomac is endangering the
health Of Cumberland and area
residents.
Strict Laws Urged.
"All existing laws regarding
pollution control should be en-
forced strictly" DR.. Moseley said.
If these laws are not sufficient,
then additional laws, should be
passed. These laws should have
teeth that will bite" he said.
DR.. Moseley said financing is
the problem hampering most
areas in pollution control. He said
it may be necessary for the
States and the Federal Govern
ment to provide funds for plan
ming abatement programs.
He explained that bonds may
be issued for actual construction,
but that no means are available
for raising funds for survey and
planning work.
DR.. Moseley said Cumberland
is the stumbling block in an area
pollution control program.
"Until Cumberland constructs
a treatment plant" he said, "other
communities in the area are
blocked"
Robert T. REGISTER, consulting
engineer. said Cumberland now
has plans for plant that will
cost So million. He said the plant
was designed to serve the city and
its suburbs, and will provide pri-
mary treatment for a population
Of $1,000. expected by 1870.
State Orders Action.
George Wall, chief engineer for
the Maryland Health Depart
ment, said Cumberland has BEEN
ordered to correct it's pollution
problem. He said the depart
ment is requiring cities all over
the State to provide treatment
facilities. He said Cumberland
has been dumping its raw sew
age into the river for more than
80 years.
John H. Jones. secretary of the
American Watershed Council, ad-
vised Cumberland residents to ap-
proach pollution problems on al
watershed basis.
He said that until the area
could offer an abundant supply of
clean water it could not compete
with other communities in at
tracing new industries.
| A special study committee, ap-
pointed by the commission last
June to study conditions in the
Washington Metropolitan Area. an
nounced it would study plans for
treatment facilities in the area and
make suggestions to speed up con-
troll measures in the area.
officials said the committee
probably would suggest that the
same degree Of sewage treatment
be provided throughout the area.
Washington plans to provide IS
per cent treatment by 1860. Alex