Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-24
Speedup Is Planned
In Sewage Facilities
Building Schedule
Cut Two Years to
Rush Additions
BY JOHN W. sTEPP


The construction schedule OF
major new additions to the Dis
trict sewage treatment plant has
been stepped up another two
years so that the massive inn
,rovemepts should be finished
by the end Of next year.
David ". Aud, District sani-
tary engineering director, dis
closed this development last
night at the organization meet
ing of the newly formed
Citizens Council for a Clean
Potomac.
The plant additions originally
were planned for completion by
1860. Last September. Mr.. Aud
that the schedule could
be advanced to 1859 completion
due to the unexpectedly early
provision of construction funds
as the Maryland share In the
expansion program.
The latest move. Mr.. Aud
explained, is possible because Of
transfers of other District sew
age construction project funds
to the treatment plant. Engi.
neering consultants further have
consolidated their planning so
that construction on the two
niain parts of the plant addi-
TONS may be undertaken stimuli
ineously.
Congress OK Seen
Mr.. Aud said he expects to
60 before the House District
Appropriations Subcommittee
within the next two weeks to
get approval of expenditures for
the revised program.
A pollution-conscious Con-
gress is expected to raise scant
challenge to the proposed poilu-
ton abatement speedup.
The treatment plant now gives
primary treatment to
its daily average sewage load Of
ITS million gallons. This degree
of treatment removes only about
30 per cent of the pollution that
gets into the Potomac River
from the plant.
On completion of so-called
secondary treatment facilities
the degree of pollution removal
viii be increased to about 80
per cent.
Cut Below 1920 Level
This removal, along with i'm
provements of treatment plant
facilities elsewhere in the WASH
ington area, will mean that by
mid-1958 the river win be re-
ceiving less of a pollution load
than at was getting in 1920,
according to the sanitary Official.
The population then was 100000.
BY 1858 it win be three times
greater.
The new additions are to be
built IN two halves. Plans for
the first have been completed
and will be advertised for con.
struction bids within two weeks.
Plans for the second half will
now be completed by July and
construction under way by no
later than November, Mr.. Aud
said.
In this way, he explained.
actual construction on both parts
viii go on concurrently through
to completion by the end of 1867.
Total cost for the improve
ments is an estimated $40 mill
lion. for which SIS million
already is under contract, he
said.
Would Combine System
The sanitary engineer made
these further points:
/. He plans to recommend
that the present combined sewer
system in the Southwest Rede-'
velopment area be separated.
Adoption of this plan would
mean the elimination of rainy
weather raw sewage flows from
18 outlets in Washington Cham
mel.
2. His departments long,
range program for eliminating
combined sewers in other limited
areas is progressing steadily and
has remedied, among others, the
dry weather raw sewage flows
from such nuisance spots as the
Watergate and the Twenty-
seventh and G streets outlets.
3. Support should be given
pending legislation directed
against river pollution here and
elsewhere. Mr.. Aud specifically
Endorsed the Broyhill bill for an
area-wide study of pollution
abatement needs. He urged
adoption of an amendment to
the Federal Water Pollution Con-
troll Act which would give the
Surgeon General of the United
States greater enforcement
powers.
The citizens council pledged its
support to these measures as we'll
as to the stepped-up schedule Of
District treatment plant con-
struction.
A nominating committee was
named to bring in a slate of off,
GERS for election at the councils
March % meeting.
kAI, L. ALL D..