Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-24
LeesbmgH Has Long Range Plan to End Water Shortage
By james Birchfield
Sfor Stcff Ccrrespoudent

ny J0mGS DtBCuIteIQ
Sfar Stuff Correspondent
LEEsBURG. va. July a..
This Northern Virginia town is
about to launch q long-range
program to relieve q water short
age that has plagued it for the
last 10 years.
So serious has the shortage
become this summer that town
officials have been forced to ban
the use of water for any but.
essential purposes.
Beginning tomorrow residents
who use water for sprinkling
lawns and washing cars win be
subject to stiff fines. And town
merchants who have installed air
ditioners that use water will
have to discontinue their use.
Drought Not to Blame.
Like many other Virginia
towns. Leesburg's water problem
has been gradually increasing
over a number Of years. The
water shortage Is not caused by.
droughts Of this year and last.
but by the gradual development
OF the town area.
Housing Developments on the
fringe of the town have placed
new demands on the municipal
water system. and the installa-
ton OF commercial air condi-
TONERS has added to the drain.
Officials believe, too, that leaks
In the water system may ac-
count for considerable loss.
Town Treasurer George E. Ward
said the town reservoir may lose
as much as $4,000 gallons during
a night.
Plan New Well.
Mayor William w. Nickels said
Leesburg will launch a three
phase program to provide ade-
quate water for present and flu
ture needs.
He said tests are being run on
a private well on the outskirts
Of town, and If this proves ade-
Quate the town will connect to
it for a short time.
He said the town win then
drill q new well, which should
serve until q permanent system
can be designed and built.
This, he said. win include tap
ping the Potomac River, only
about. three miles from town,
and installing a filtration plant.
A Potomac River supply, he
said. would end the water prob
lem.
Town officials estimated that
a new well delivering as much
as 80 gallons per minute, would
relieve the present emergency.
However. it is the concensus
of town council members that
the town eventually viii. be
forced to go to the river.
A neV well. complete with
pumping equipment, would cost
approximately $500 to $1,000.
engineers estimate. while no
costs have yet been estimated
on construction of a line to the
river and q filtration plant. The
town now chlorinates all water
used. but it Is not filtered.
Uses 2 Wells and Spring.
At present Leesburg draws its
water from two wells and two
springs within the town limits.
The springs deliver about IS
gallons per minute. and the
combined flow of the wells is
about 95 gallons per minute. The
water is pumped into two stor-
age tanks, one of $1,000 gallon
capacity, and the other holding
10000 gallons.
Recently the town made tests
of q possible water source in an
abandoned quarry near the
town line. Army engineers from
Fort Belvoir, Va, made pumping
tests, but it was decided that
the supply was too uncertain.
The quarry property was offered
to the town for $4,000.
Town Plans to Expand.
Frank Ratio. a Leesburg mer-
chant and member of the coun-
Gil, said an adequate water sup
ply is important because Lees
burg intends to annex additional
land this fall.
The town, now 302.25 acres in
area, plans annexation Of an adj
ditional 1.188.45 acres. Town
officials said surveys have been
completed, and the town will
bring annexation proceedings
this fall.
When the town expands, Mr..
Ratio said. it will be necessary
for it to be able to provide both