Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-22
Sewage Work
SET in Motion
In Alexandra
Sanitation Authority
Wins Legal Approval
Of Disposal System

The Alexandria Sanitation
Authority, today began final
plans to construct q sos million
sewage disposal system to serve
all Of Alexandra and part Of
Fairfax County after winning
legal approval from the Virginia
Supreme Court Of Appeals.
The decision Of the high court
yesterday upheld constitutional
ity Of the authority and Of its
contract to serve parts Of Fair
fax County.
The Alexandria authority was
the first created in the State
under the Virginia Water and
Sewer Authority Act Of 1852. and
the joint agreement with Fair
fax also was the first Of its
kind in the State. The test case
decided by the Supreme Court
was filed by three residents Of
Alexandria and Fairfax to eS-
tablish validity of the authority
and the joint contract before
proceeding with sale Of bonds.
Every Point Upheld
The supreme court decision
upheld every point Of an earlier
decision by Fairfax Circuit
Judge Paul Brown.
Now that the litigation is set
tied, the authority expects to
proceed according to the follow
ing schedule:
/. Ask the Alexandria City
Council tonight to provide the
authority with land to build the
disposal plant. The proposed
site is at the foot of Payne street
on the banks Of Hunting Greek.
and already is owned by the city.
The council also will be asked to
approve relocation Of power lines
that now divide the disposal
plant site.
2. Receive final plans and
specifications for the entire prof.
ect on Thursday.
3. Advertise for construction
bids around July 20, and estab-
lish q sewer service charge rate
schedule according to prelim-
mary cost estimates.
4. Hold q service charge rate
hearing as required by law
around August Z. It has been
estimated that the rate will be
between IS and IS per cent Of
current water bills.
IS. Receive construction bids
about September 8, and author
ize advertisement for the bond
sale about a week later.
6. Receive bond bids about
October 5, award the bond sale
and award construction con-,
tracts. frs- ~ -
II Miles Of Sewer Planned.
The entire project includes
about II miles of sewer. two
pumping stations and a treat
ment plant. All Of Alexandria.
which now empties about z mil
lion gallons Of untreated sewage
into the Potomac River each
day, will be served by the dis
posal system. Parts of Fairfax
County that cannot be accommo-
dated by existing facilities in
the county also will be served by
the Alexandria system.
1t is expected that the entire
system will take Is months to
two years to complete. The dis-
posal plant is designed to provide
80 per cent treatment.
Alexandria's share Of the COM
bined program will cost $7.048.-
600 and Fairfax is committed to
pay So, 100000. The Alexandria
Authority proposes to issue
bonds to cover the full cost OF
the combined system. however,
and Fairfax is to pay its share
in annual installments plus SER
vice charges.
Alexandra and Fairfax
decided to join in the combined
system because engineers said
they could save at least $2.1
million in initial construction
costs and millions more in
operating costs. The joint system
plan grew out of a regional
sewage survey sponsored in
northern Virginia by Alexandria.
Arlington. Fairfax and Falls