Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-21
Virginia Water Problem
Water Firm Worth $4,000
Started on SIS 8 Years Ago

areas during dry spells. In some
sections served by the smaller
companies, fire protection is
substandard. even where hy-
have been installed.
Confronted with a bathing
patchwork of water firms, the
Fairfax Board of County ST.
pervlsors has authorized a study
of an integrated water system
for the county. The study may
lead to consideration of a SIS
million bond issue proposed by
to build a filtration
plant on the Potomac River and
install transmission lines.
One reason for the study is
the difference in the cost OF
water to the companies. AMMAN
dale pays Virginia Water Co
Is cents per 1000 gallons. Ar
lington County receives most OF
its water for 7.37 cents per LOCO
gallons from the District OF
Columbia plant at Dalecarlia
Fairfax Hydraulics Water Co
pays Virginia Water Co. 37.5
cents per 1000.
Annandale pays without re-
luctance for the 100000 gallons
a day it receives from Virginia
Before Mr.. McWhorter saw his
company's lines connected with
the larger firm in 1851, AMMAN
dale was beset with periodic sup
ply shortages in some areas.
Service Often Interrupted.
For three years after the
Annandale firm began to ex-
pand. employees had to rush to
one weak spot after another as
service was interrupted. AS the
lines pushed out to new subdi-
visions, new wells and new
pumps couldn't meet the de-
mand.
Most of the water lines were
installed by developers and given
to the company. Equipment the
firm had to install at its own eA-
pense was acquired in a period
of scarce materials and high
prices.
AS the company moved to ex-
pand. Mr.. McWhorter had ether
troubles besides difficulties with
in the system. On the company'S
boundaries were two strong COM
petitors. Virginia Water Co. and
the City of Falls Church. both
eager for new customers.
Two large subdivisions at Ar
lington boulevard near Falls
Church were almost within the
grasp Of the city's water system
when Mr.. McWhorter wrested
them away. Annardale was pre-
pared to connect its system to the
new homes at less cost to the
developers than Falls Church
would charge. Annandale month
ly rates to the people wAo moved
into the homes are higher, how
ever.
For $4,000 gallons, the AMMAN
dale Water Co. customer ON the
south side of Arlington boulevard
pays $1l.70 quarter. The Falls
Church customer in Fairfax
County on the north side of the
boulevard pays So. The nearby
Falls Church customer living in
the city pays $3.50.
Falls Church officials said Ann
could not meet the de-
of hundreds of new
homes. They expected that If a
shortage developed, the city
would be called on to take over
the area.
City Asked to Help.
A shortage did develop. The
city was called on-but not to
take over the area. The State
persuaded Falls Church to sup
ply water to the dry Annandale
customers through a fire hose
connection.
Suddenly Mr.. McWhorter and
his crew gave up their feverish
struggle to try to meet new de-
mands with new wells and new
pumps. He turned to Virginia
Water Co.. which had completed
at Occoquan one Of the most
modern water plants in the Ma
ton, and had run a line through
Fairfax County to Alexandra
and Springfield.
An 8.000-foot temporary, above
ground line was laid to connect
the Annandale and Virginia
systems in June, 1851.
The following February, Ann.
andale made a permanent con-
nection with Virginia. Mr.. Nc
Whorter, no longer in q position
Of requiring emergency help, was
firmly in command Of his COM
pany's 9-square-mile territory.