Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1953-05-28
Health Boards
Arco|a Order
Fought in Court
Sanitary Commission
Bulks at EXTENDING
Sewer Lines

sewer Lines
The Washington Suburban
Sanitary Commission will fight
in Maryland courts against a
State Board of Health order
directing it to extend sewer lines
to the Arcola section of Wheaton,
in Montgomery County.
An action filed by the agency
yesterday asks Prince Georges
County judges to set aside the
order on the ground that it is
unnecessary. unreasonable and
unlawful"
Through its counsel, Arthur c.
Keefer. the commission declared
that costs of extending sewer
lines for the remote" area would
be excessive ad that no health
problem exists there by reason
of their absence.
The agency's complaint fur
ther alleges that the State Board
of Health itself has failed to
comply with statutes.
In a directive issued on May
is, the board said lack of sewer
lines in the Arcola section con-
Stituted health menace and
ordered the commission to pro-
vide such facilities for houses
fronting on Henderson, Parker,
Hermitage, Arcola, Franwell and
Crebaugh avenues, Marin road
and Charming drive.
Denies Health Menace.
All the houses are connected
to a public water system and are
served by septic tanks which the
commission said, "have not been
and are not now prejudicial to
the health and comfort of resi-
dents"
The law requires, the agency
commended. that the Health Board
find upon investigation that the
absence of a public system of
sewage disposal is prejudicial to
the health and comfort of the
locality before it is authorized to
order the installation and oper-
alton of such a system.
yet" the complaint said, "the
order fails TO disclose any in
vestigation or finding by the
State Board of Health" on which
such an order could properly be
based.
The commission also charged
the board with disregarding
statutes providing that subdivi-
sion plats be submitted to the
board before land is sold or per-
manent buildings are erected.
The law requires that the plat be
accompanied by a statement as
to methods proposed for supply
ing water and sewage facilities
and authorizes the Health Board
to order installation of such sys-
TENS.
Charges Enforcement Failure.
Notwithstanding the power so
granted" the complaint alleged,
1.-The State Board of Health has
failed to take any action what
Soever to enforce these provisions
and did not require the owners
of the subdivisions where the
houses are located to file plans
and specifications"
Furthermore, the commission
said, "the duly constituted au-
thorities of Montgomery County,
including the county health Off
Ger, continued up to and includ-
ing the year 1853 to issue build
ing permits for houses within the
area and permitted installation
of septic tanks"
An application for sewage serv-
ice in the Arcola section was
filed with the commission several
years ago, the complaint recited,
but was denied because of the
remoteness of the area and the
excessive cost"
$4,000 Per House.
The nearest of the properties
listed by the Health Board, the
commission claimed, is about
$500 feet from the terminus of
the nearest sewer in the
Sligo Branch watershed, in which
most of the houses are located.
The cost of extending sewer lines
to these houses would total $780,
100, the commission said, or ap-
proximately $4,000 for each
house.
In order to comply with the
directive to connect nine houses
on Henderson avenue, which
drains to the Northwest Branch,
the complaint said it would be
necessary to spend $43, 260, or
$4,807 a house. If the connec-
lions were made. the commission
added, a $4,000 loss would re-
suit ultimately because a required
sewage pumping station and 900
feet of 4-inch force main would
be abandoned later.
The commission also said it
has plans to extend sewers
throughout its 214 square-mile
district and declared that ANY
order requiring it to extend serv-
ice to remote sections will cause
financial hardship on all property
owners in the district and pre-
vent systematic planning"
E;ennhowar Anrane