Evening star., 1955-11-03
Dr. Kennedy Hits
2Agencies, One
His Employer
BY MARY Lou WERNER

Or. Harold Kennedy, Fairfax
County health ofiicer. last night
criticized the Virginia State
Health Department and the
State Water Control Board dur
ling q debate over the county's
proposed $50 million bond ISSUE.
DR.. Kennedy, an outspoken
advocate Of the bond program,
made 1t clear he did not think
the State agencies could be
trusted to protect sources Of
water supply. such as Occoquarls
from pollution,
DR.. Kennedy Is an enploye Of
| the State Health Department
and directs the Fairfax health
program. under supervision Of
THE State agency.
The health officer's remarks
were made at the fourth Of Q
series Of meetings to explain the
water bond program at Herndon.
Challenges Speaker
The fireworks came while How.
ard c. Richards, manager of the
Alexandria and Virginia Water
companies, was telling the audi-
ence how his firms proposed to
Ienlarge their reservoirs in Deco
guam so they could supply so MIL
lion gallons day.
The two private utilities have
opposed the bond issue. Facilities
LOT private companies would be
absorbed into an integrated pub
lie water system supplied from
the Potomac River II the bond
issue passes.
Can you name another re-
Iservoir. II miles long. unprotect-
led from the pollution that de-
lvelopment surely win bring?s
asked DR.. Kennedy. He was
referring to the enlarged occo-
guam reservoir and the potential
development that might take
place In its watershed.
Mr.. Richards replied that the
State Health Department and
State Water Control board were
required by law to protect a pub
lie water supply from pollution.
BeIittIes Protection
II am an employe Of the State
Health Department. and / sub
INIT to you that any organization
(which allows sewage efiiuencs
THAT is twice the amount OF q
creek minimum flow to discharge
Into that creek well, / don't
think that's protecting q public
water supply" " retorted DR.. KEN
Inedy.
DO ! take it you are down
ing the State Health Depart
lment?' asked Mr.. Richards.
I'm here to protect the people
lof Fairfax County. DR.. Kennedy
insisted. / will positively state
that the amount of efiuence--
mo matter how much it is treated
which goes into a creek. should
never be double that creeks
minimum fiow If it is to be used
! for public drinking"
DR.. Kennedy later explained
that his remarks directed at both
the health department and the
water board. He declared that
four sewage disposal plants all
approved by the two State agen-
Icies-riow discharge IL million
gallons of treated effiuent daily
into OccoQuan and its tributaries.
Carl Soresi, chairman of the
Citizens Fact Finding Commit-
tee, which has opposed the bond
issue, read two letters to support
his position. One was from John
J. Wise OF the office Of Civilian
Defense Co-ordinator, who said
| 1t would be desirable to have two
sources Of water supply In case
Iof enemy attack Another was
from Col. Ray Adams Of the
Washington district Army Engi-
lneers, who said that Fairfax
County had no agreement to buy
water from Delecarlia.
The county proposes, II tho
bond issue passes, to buy water
from Delecarlia or draw directly
from the Potomac River into 4
new county filtration plant.