Evening star., 1955-11-06
Wafer Rate Dispute
Flares in Fairfax
County to Vote
On Utility Bond
Issue Tuesday

a AAnPutC OtIA WdtCA 4 atco 0Cs
veloped last night as the time
neared for voting on Fairfax
countyis $So-million revenue
bond issue to finance q county
owned integrated water system.
The eounty's New York con-
sultant and the chairman Of q
citizens committee supporting
the bond issue said that contin-
ued private operation Of the
county's water utilities would
eventually result In higher rates
than under q public-owned sys-
tenn.
These claims were denied by
Howard c. Richard, manager Of
the alexandria and Virginia
Water Companies. which are
leading the fight against the
bond issue to be voted upon
Tuesday. Another blast against
the proposed water program was
issued by the Citizens Fact
Finders Committee. led by Carl
Sore6i.
Cost Figures Cited
NJ. II. Klegerman, engineer for
Alexander Potter Associates, said
1t would cost the Alexandra and
Virginia Water Companies more
than twice as much as they have
stated it would to increase the
output Of Occoquan Reservoir to
so million gallons . day. He also
said that this would only take
care Of the lower part Of the
county.
Mr.. Klegerman said that It
would cost added millions to
bring water to residents Of the
upper part Of the county.
The cost of the expansion ct
Occoquan and servicing Of the
whole Of the lower part Of the
county was put at more than
SIS million by Mr.. Klegerman.
This IS more than twice the cost
estimated by Mr.. Richards.
Mr.. Klegerman said that the
rates would be higher II private
companies make these invest
ments than If the county does It.
He added that private companies
will be allowed to make 3 six
per cent profit while the county
would be operating on 4 nom
profit basis.
Whitener Gives Estimate
Russell Whitener, chairman Of
the Citizens Committee for an
Integrated County Water Sys-I
TEN, said statements BY the
Alexandra and Virginia Water
Companies have presented voters
with 4 choice between private
water company rates and some
what higher rates estimated for
the proposed county system.
These statements have corn-I
pletely ignored known factors
which will inevitably result In
rates. Mr.. Whitener said.
These factors" he said. will
result Ia Increasing the average
water bill as much as s7.li per
quarter above the estimated rate
under county operation, Present
cust0mers OF the Alexandra.
Virginia, Annandale and Fair
fax Hydraulics water companies
viii be forced to subsidizG private
operators through higher rates
than would be required under
county operation in the event
the water bond issue Is rejected
by the voters"
Expansion Of the OccoquaIlI
facilities Of Alexandra Water
company viii result IN an in-|
debtedness Of 81 million, which
would require an increase Of 5.27|
In thet average quarterly rate of|
al customers Of the four con-l
panies served from this source,
Mr.. Whitener said.
Investment Rates Noted
Mr.. Richards said the invest
ment at Occoquan Reservoir now
amounts to 1858 per customer.
He said that even with planned
expansion by the year 1000 that
figure would be reduced to si32|
because or the large number of
customers that will be added.
III our present rates are car-I
rying 4 1868 per customer ifl-1
Vestrneflt it follows that it should
carry i sl32 Investment Mr.
Richards said.
The Soresi statement said that
the amortization and coyerage,
In the construction stages on
the water bond debt win require
the county to earn over twice as
much gross revenue as do those
private companies which the
county plans to acquire. :
Northern Virginia Home.
Builders Association meanwhile
declared it has not taken any
stand on the bond issue. A sur.
vey BY the Home Builders tech
nicai advisor last week ques-
toned the adequacy Of the Deco
Qual source to serve the county's
needs and suggested the Potomac
River as the best available
source.