Evening star., 1953-11-06
State Assured
|0n Alexandria
Sewer Project
Initial Progress
On Joint Program
With Foirfux Cited
BY Mary Lou Werner
Star Sfoff corresnondant

Star Sfaff Correspondent
RICHMOND, Nov. 6.-The Vir-
ginia State Water Control Board
has been given assurance that
Fairfax and Alexandria intend
to go through with a joint sew
age disposal program.
Representatives of the two
Jurisdictions submitted reports
to the water board at a hearing
in Richmond yesterday.
Fairfax County Executive c.
C Massey said he believed the
County Board of Supervisors
would by November 19 approve
a sewage service contract offered
by the Alexandria Sanitation
Authority.
AT this stage. we are reasor-
ably close to an agreement"
said Mr.. Massey. He added that
the principal difficulty involved
legal questions over the countv'S
right to enter a long-term con-
tract with Alexandria.
Backed by Engineers.
E. Blackburn Moore, chairman
Of the water board, asked if anv
objections had arisen to the pro-
posed contract.
Mr.. Massey replied that the
county's own consulting en-
gineers recommended the 'oint
plan as the most economical So
luton to part of the county's
sewage disposal problems. He
said he knew of no serious OBJ
jections.
'The real interest # the water
board is to have things proceed
as rapidly as possible" said Mr..
Moore.
Mr.. Massey stated that the
Fairfax supervisors already are
on record declaring their inten-
ton to participate in the Joint
plan. He said the county was
committed to share in the cost
of plans now being prepared.
Alexandria Gains Cited.
James j. Corbalis, jr.. engineer
director Uf the Alexandria Sani-
tation Authority. reported what
progress had been made since
Alexandria appeared before the
water board in August. He said
| engineers rad taken test borings
of the plant site On Hunting
Creek, soundings of Hunting
Greek had been taken, a tenta-
! tive agreement had been reached
with the Virginia Electric 81
Power Co. for relocation of trans
mission lines crossing the plant
site, and a field survey of the
Holmes Run trunk sewer had
been completed.
Mr.. Corbalis said the authority
still believed it could meet the
work schedule presented in All
gust. The schedule calls for
completion of all plans and spec
lf1cations by February Is and
start of construction by June.
Must File Test Suit.
Mr.. Corbalis said it would be
necessary to bring a test suit to
establish validity of the proposed
long-term contract with Alexan-
dria. w. w, Koontz, attorney
for the authority. said he be-
lleved the litigation could be set
tied by early February.
Suppose the contract is not
legal. Then what?" asked Ross
H. Walker. a member of the wa
ter board.
Wed have to settle for a
short-term contract. All the at
torneys agree that would be le-
gal" said Mr.. Corbalis. He ex-
planned that the long-term con-
tract would mean a more favor
able bond sale
The water board accepted the
statements of the Alexandria
and Fairfax representatives as a
progress report and took no ac-
ton.
$1O.4 Million Cost Figured.
Engineers estimate the Joint
project will cost $10.4 million.
1t will provide treatment facil-
tiles and intercepting sewers for
all OF Alexandria and for por-
tions of sanitary districts No.
and 6 in Fairfax County. The
present plant under construction
in Fairfax County is designed to
meet the needs of sanitary dis
trict No. l only until 1856.
BY Joining with Alexandria,
engineers estimate Fairfax
County can save over 81 million
and provide a higher degree of
sewage treatment than would be
available by expanding the Fair
fax plant. The Alexandria plant
is designed for 80 per cent
treatment.
treatment. The Fairfax plant is
designed for so to go per cent
treatment.
Others from Alexandria and
Fairfax who attended the hear
ing were w. T. wilkins and Lin
wood Reed of the Alexandria
Sanitation Authority and Harry
L. Hale, Fairfax sanitary en-
gineer.