Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-16
Fairfax Link
To D. {. Water
Supply Urged
Initial PIuns Provide
Service Throughout
East Half of County
By Mary Lou Werner

Ed1T10X county To-Day TeCelEeo
preliminary plans for . multi
million dollar public water
system to be supplied directly
from the Districts Dalecarlia re-
servoir through q new pipeline
across the Potomac River.
The project contemplates inte-
grafton Of existing separate water
facilities into a single system
that eventually could be ex-
tended to all parts Of the county.
Initial plans, however. are for
service throughout the populous
eastern half Of the county.
Fairfax County now has no
public water system Of its own.
Nineteen separate water CONS
panies--some operated by towns
and others privately owned =
now serve scattered sections Of
the area. These systems are sup-
piled by three principal sources:
/. Wells-which the report
notes are inadequate for reliable
supplies.
2. Occoquan Reservoir Of the
Alexandria and Virginia Water
companies.
8. The District, via the Falls
Church water system which buys
water from Washington and
receives it through q pipe across
Chain Bridge.
$34.5 Million Project
Total cost of the proposed wa
ter project is estimated to DO
$34.5 million or $3.50 million,
depending on which Of two al.
ternate plans is adopted.
With two minor exceptions,
the $34.5 million plan. designated
as Scheme A, contemplates coun-
ty acquisition Of all existing wa
ter facilities--including that por-
ton Of the Falls Church munic.
ipal water system which serves
sections Of fairfax.
The two small systems that
are not included in Scheme A
are one serving the town Of
Herndon and a very small one
known as the Mason's Neck Wa
ter Co., which serves q subdi-
vision in the extreme southeast.
ern corner Of the county.
The 1898 million plan, desig-
mated Scheme b, is the same a.
Scheme A except 1t omits &C
QUESTION OF the Falls Church
water facilities In the county.
Neither plan contemplates the
county taking over Occoquan
reservoir, which would continue
to serve as q source of supply
for Alexandria.
Financial Advantages
Scheme A offers certain firian-
cial advantages to the county
during the early stages of de-
veloping a public water system.
according to M. H. Klegerman
Of Alexandria Potter Associates,
engineering firm which drafted
the report. Mr.. Klegerman pre-
sented the report to the Board
of County Supervisors today.
By acquiring Falls Church
water facilities in the county.
Fairfax would have an operating
income at the outset to help
finance the water program.
Dalecarlia is the source Of
supply recommended in the en-
cheering report because it Is
cheapest and offers the quickest
means of completing the pro-
gram. The possibility of con-
structing county filtration
plant with intake from the Poto-
mac River just above Turkey
Island also is discussed. The
report comments that this plan
might be given more serious
consideration II ether jurisdic-
tions on the Virginia side of the
river indicate an interest in
joining Fairfax.
Financed by Bonds
It is proposed to finance tho
entire program, with new con-
struction scheduled in four stages
through 1875, by water revenue
bonds. A financial opinion Of
Lehman Bros, bona advisers.
contained In the engineering re-
port declared that this seems
feasible. To retire either q $34.S
or $29.3 million bond issue, the
Fairfax County family will have
to pay an annual water bill Of
$50.
Present annual bills for an
average family now vary from
$24 for about 800 customers to
$59.40 for about 10000 CUSTOM
ers.
The report notes that the flow
Of the Potomac River at intake
into the District system is more
than ample to supply the FORE
seeable future needs of all areas
to be served, including Fairfax
County. The direct tapping from
Dalecarlia to Fairfax County.
however, might require some fu.
ture alterations to the District
reservoir and pumping facilities.
Mr.. Klegerman said engineers
in charge of Dalecarlia have this
matter under study. but in the
meantime have told the county
1t could assume availability of q
supply from that source.
A tentative cost to the county
Of $50 per million gallons was
quoted by Dalecarlia officials.
Arlington County currently pays
$3.50 per million gallons.
Allen to Speak Tonight
A C-LM~f E.l NJ.