Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-21
For an Overall Solution

With the President sponsoring an
intensive, comprehensive study OF the
Chantilly Sewage-diSpoSal problem, 1t is
appropriate that careful consideration
be given to proposals for an overall,
long-range solution Of this vital matter.
Certainly it is essential that sewage from
the Dulles international Airport should
not defile the water which people OF
the Metropolitan Area drink. But it is
Just as essential that some provision be
made, now or later, to prevent a SIM
liar threat to the water from airport
spawned communities in Fairfax and
Loudoun Counties. Why not meet both
threats by building an interceptor sys-
tenn adequate for the needs not only of
the airport but Of the subdivisions and
shopping centerS that inevitably will
follow completion of the airport?
The idea of a major interceptor
sewer to carry sewage from the two
counties across the Potomac River and
thence to the District treatment plant
at Blue Plains is not new, Of course.
Engineering consultants have proposed
such a plan as one OF several ways
of solving Northern Virginia sewage
disposal problems. District officials are
known to look with favor on the
plan. And Virginia authorities have ex-
pressed their interest informally-pro-
vided a satisfactory financing arrange
ment could be worked out.
Chairman Bible of the Senate Dis
trict Committee supported the overall
interceptor system in statement to
the Senate Appropriations Committee
when the airport sewage problem was
under discussion. He told the commit
tee, in part:
In the end, the only proper solution is
large Potomac River interceptor sewer
collecting the sewage of both the air
port itself and the related industrial and
housing developments, and carrying 1t
all down for treatment and disposal be-
low the District of Columbia. That large
system would, of course, be expensive,
but it would also be self-liquidating. 1t
would be the best from the point OF view
of immediate need and Of ultimate de-
velopment 1t would also be the most
economical solution from the viewpoint
of the Federal Treasury and that of area
local governments.
While such a comparatively used inter-
ceptor sewer could not be constructed by
the FAA under its present authority, the
agency could make contribution to the
construction cost Of such a sewer and 1t
could contract for the use of its share
Of the capacity of the sewer as calculated
on a metered basis. The remaining cost
would be a local government cost, ar
ranged best by the creation of Northern
Virginia Sanitation Authority, composed
initially of two or more of the six local
Jurisdictions, which would issue bonds
and operate the facility.
Senator Bible urged Congress to
"avoid the narrowly conceived, short
run, falsely economical plans for facil-
tiles that must be abandoned after a
brief and limited USE" His advice is
southland especially timely now that
a presidential study of the whole prob
lem is under way. We hope that the
findings will induce Congress at its next
session to take broad look at the SAM
tation crisis posed by the new airport
and approve solution that will perma-
nently safeguard the areas drinking
water against treated sewage from above
the Dalecarlia water-supply intake.