Evening star., 1953-07-23
Wafer System
Survey Ordered
For Fairfax
Bourd Considers
County Ownership
And Operation

has instructed en-
gineers, legal and financial adj
viserS to study the possibility
of establishing a comprehensive
water system for the county.
The survey was authorized
yesterday as the supervisors met
to consider sewer problems. BY
operating its own water system,
the county might find it easier
to finance a proposed SITS mil
lion sewer program, engineers
said.
In other actions yesterday. the
stepped up negotia-
tions with Alexandria for Joint
use of sewage disposal facilities.
and authorized further planning
for the proposed integrated
county sewer system.
Mrs. Anne wilkins. supervisor
from Falls Church District, Of
fered the water survey motion
and it carried unanimously.
II would like to see the county
own its own water system" said
supervisor Stuart DeBell of
Centreville District.
Nine Companies Now.
G. Hubbard Massey, consulting
engineer, said the county now
has nine separate private water
companies which charge vary
ing rates. He said most of them
have difficulty supplying enough
water in dry spells such as the
current one.
This looks like a good time
to talk about acquiring some Of
the private water companies,
said Mr., Massey. He suggested
that the county ought to look to
the upper Potomac River as it's
source of water supply.
A water survey such as the
one authorized by the super
visors was an issue in the recent
Fairfax House of Delegates CAM
paign. One of the successful
Democratic candidates, Omer
Hirst,. recommended it.
Agreement Pushed.
NEGOTIATIONS on a Joint sewer
contract with Alexandria were
pushed at the request of the
Alexandria Sanitation Authority.
Albert A. Smoot. chairman of the
authority, said attorneys for the
authority had prepared several
recommended written agree
ments with Fairfax, but had re-
ceived no word from the county.
The supervisors said their at
torneys had not shown them any
of the proposed agreements. At
torney Henry Russell, member of
the law firm which is advising
the county on it's sewer program,
said he would have tentative
agreement prepared by the mid
die of next week.
The supervisors approved gen.
eral terms of the agreement in
yesterdays discussions. It is to
be an annual contract, giving the
county an option to renew each
year. Attorneys have held that
the county cannot enter into a
perpetual agreement.
The Joint program would ac-
commodate all of Alexandria. a
portion of Sanitary District No.
l in the county, and some county
areas outside that district.
Further Planning Authorized.
For portions of the county not
served by the joint Alexandria
Fairfax system, the Supervisors
authorized further planning of
a $17.5 million integrated sewer
system.
M. H. Klegerman, of Alex
ander Potter Associates, ex-
planned engineering details of
the integrated sewer system. He
said the existing facilities in
Sanitary District No. / would
have to become part of the inte-
grated system by refunding the
outstanding SO million bond
issue in that district. -
William r. McGill, financial
adviser, agreed with this recon-
mendation. He further sug-
gested that the county offer the
entire $17.5 million bond issue
at one referendum, but put the
bonds on the market little by
little so a lower interest rate
could be obtained. He said the
bonds could be entirely revenue
producing, or could be so-called
dual bonds which are paid off
by revenues, but have the
county's credit behind them in
case the revenues fall short.
Mr.. Russell said legislation
would be needed at the next
session of the General Assembly
to permit Sanitary District No.
/ to sell its assets to the county.
and become part of the