Evening star., 1953-05-19
State Orders
Arco|a Area
Sewer Lines
Sanitary Commission
To Act Today on
Health Ultimutum

I1SOIlU OIIIIUOCum
The Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission today will
consider an order it received yes
terday from the State Board of
Health to install sewers in the
Arcola area north of Wheaton.
Arthur c. Keefer general
counsel for the sanitary COM
mission, said the commission
would determine today what ac-
tion it would take in the Situa-
ton.
The health board order was de-
livered by messenger to the COM
mission yesterday. The board
had written it's order on Friday.
The directive was blunt and
hard-hitting. It ordered the san
itary body to submit plans for
the sanitary sewer installation
to the board by next November /.
Sets Operating Deadline.
'"This construction shall be
completed and operating by No.
vember /. 1884," the State board
wrote.
In releasing the order, r. M.
Brown, chief of the boards bu-
reau of environmental hygiene,
said:
"The board, has been studying
the facts and trying to promote
cooperative action between
builders, developers and COM
munity interests and the sanitary
commission, but has been un-
successful.
Things had to be brought to
head by official order"
The area involved lies to the
east of Georgia avenue, just
north of Old Bladensburg road.
Residents of the area have
been trying for the last two years
to get the sanitary commission
to install sewers because septic
tanks are imperative there. The
Board of Health said the absence
of sewers is a menace to the
public health"
Fewer Than 100 Homes.
The commission has declined
to undertake the project, be-
cause, it said, the expense was
too great for the number of
homes to be served. Fewer than
100 homes lie in the area. and
not all of them have had septic
tank trouble.
The order applied specifically
to servicing houses fronting on
Henderson, Parker, Hermitage,
Arcola. Franwell and Orebaugh
avenues. Charming drive and
Nairn road.
Harry B. Shaw, chief engi-
neer of the sanitary commits
sion. said it will cost the COM
mission at least $188, 900 to meet
the directive. He said nearly
10000 feet of sewer lines will
have to be laid.
Mr.. Shaw's figures are based.
on extension of the Sligo Greek
trunk line. He said that if
all the homes in the area are
to be served, the commission
also may have to construct a
pumping station at additional
cost.
OmitS Development Plan.
The Sligo Creek extension
would not serve the Layhill road
section, where four Washington
businessmen said they were pre-
pared to construct several hun
dred homes if the sewers were
installed. Extension of the
Northwest branch trunk line
into this area would cost an
other $500,0O0, he said.
Mr.. Keefer yesterday said the
commission has two courses of
action open to it-either comply
with the order or contest it in
the courts.
Then, he added, if the COM
mission complies, it must decide
who is to pay for the costly
project.
The general counsel said the
project could be paid for out
Of general construction funds or
by issuance of special bonds. |
Special Assessment Power.
Under the law, he said, the
commission may issue bonds
valued up to 2 per cent of the
sanitary districts assessable
base, to meet requirements of
the Board of Health. Special
assessments can be levied on
property owners served, he
added.
Mr.. Keefer said the order |
came as no surprise to him. He |
added it was the first such di-
rective received by the COM
mission, but that similar ones
have been issued to Anne Arun-
del and Baltimore Counties.
The order came on the heels
Of a fuling by the Public Service
Commission that it would hold
hearings on recent rate raises
for sewer and trash collection