Evening star., 1955-10-21
Fairfax Citizens Back
Water Bond Issue

6QGI0uUU A6IS
After Warning
On Creek Peril
/ Fairfax County's proposed $50
million water bond issue got 8
boost last night from the Fairfax
Federation Of Citizens Associa-
itions after the county health
Officer warned that Occouuarl
Greek eventually would have to
ibe abandoned as q source Of
water supply.
One OF the principal argu-
lments against the bond issue has
lbeen that the Alexandra and
Virginia water companies can
develop an adequate reservoir on
lOccoquan Greek to supply the
county. The public water sys-
Item planned under the bond
tissue program proposes to use
1.-THE Potomac River as q source
Iof supply either directly from
Dalecarlia or through q new
county filtration plant.
! An overwhelming vote Of sup
port for the water bond issue
lcarne after DR.. Harold Kennedy,
county health officer. spoke In
Its behalf. and Carl d. Soresi OF
1.-THE Fairfax County Citizens
Fact Finding Committee spoke
'Iagainst 1t.
"The prime need of the county
lis an adequate water supply"
Isaid Or. Kennedy.
Too Many Customers
/ The health officer declared that
1.-THE existing reservoir on Occo-
1auan did not have an adequate
supply in 1t last year after Alex-
'Iandria and Virginia added some
$4,000 new customers.
Alexandria and Virginia, inter-
locking companies owned by
american WaterWorks. have an
''Inounced plans to increase the
storage capacity of Occouuan to
ITO billion gallons. The private
utilities have stated that the new
reservoir will be adequate to sup-
lply the county's needs without
ANY rainfall for more than 200
days
4 But DR.. Kennedy predicted
THAT Occoqual would have to be
abandoned sooner or later. It
llies in a fast-growing area and
constantly would be jeopardized
lby pollution from septic tanks.
Isiltation and even pollution from
sewage disposal plants. according
ito Or. Kennedy.
/ He recalled that similar condo
ltions forced abandonment OF
Lake Bancroft which formerly
twas the Reservoir Of the Alex
iandria Water Co. Such dangers
from pollution are greatest when
ia reservoir has to rely principally
Jon rainwater drainage. rather
than q steady fiow OF water like
the Potomac River. he said.
i Opposing View
i Mr.. Soresi told more than 40
persons attending last nights
injecting the county should defer
lor reject the water bond issue
iuntil further study.
The voter In Fairfax County
lhas not sufficient information
lon this issue to vote intelligent-
Ily,n he said.
Private water companies plans
Ito improve their service are IN
obvious opposition to the pro.
Iposed county water system, de-
lclared Daniel r. Sclinrnel for
1.-THE Citizens Committee for an
lIntegrated Water system.
| Massey Speaks
These plans win be dropped
III the bond issue fails" he said.
The proposed water system
lean be extended to any area Of
1.-THE county whenever 1t is eco-
non1ical to do SO. Fairfax
County Executive {C. Carlton
MASSEY told the federation.
James Keith. Democratic can-
ldidate for the Board Of County
Supervisors, criticized private
water company rates based on
donated" capital. II think We
should look at this from the
point Of view of our rates next
year." he said. These COM
lpanies have d monopoly. r
The Fairfax Board Of County
Supervisors meanwhile issued q
statement in reply to Alexandra
land Virginia about Occoquan's
potential water resources.
Supervisors Reply
Noting that Alexandra and
Virginia have stated that expan-
ision Of the Occoquan reservoir
can supply all of the county, the
supervisors declared:
Whether this can be done
depends entirely upon how much
lit rains in this immediate area.
The Occouuan watershed is 8
relatively small one which is al
most entirely within growing
areas Of Prince William and
Fairfax Counties. A drought in
this area would be 4 drought In
lthe whole Occoquan watershed.
Although permanent use OF
IOccoqaar appears extremely
doubtful at this time. there is
nothing In the county,s water
program which would prevent
utilization of this supply If the
final engineering report shows 1t
I TO be adequate and less expensive
than the Potomac supply.
THE referendum to be voted
ion November 8 is on the question
Iof whether the people of the
county approve the issuance Of
up to $50 million of strictly
Irsnstnsna.n As,.. IL. AA.. 49,. .......iAu u.a