Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-10-04
George Can't Do 1t

SSOISS S0H I ~ -
The concept of regional
sewage disposal to eliminate
pollution in the growing areas
of suburban Maryland re-
ceived a severe setback with
the passage Of Congressional
authorization for purchase Of
land along the southern shore
Of Piscataway Bay for park
use. The Star recently COM
pounded the error by lend
ing editorial support to the
action.
Although the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion assured Congress that
a proposed regional sewage
disposal facility on the south
ern shore of the bay would
not be visible from Mount
Vernon and that the WSSC
certainly has no intention
Of constructing anything in
any location which would
be aesthetically Objectionable
to view from any historic
shrine" the legislators pro-
ceeded to push through a
measure which calls for cost
~ purchase of the entire
southern Piscataway Bay
area and the downstream
Potomac River shore for
parkland.
Since the Piscataway and
Broad Creek drainage ba-
sins are expected to have a
combined population Of 300,-
900 persons by the year 1000,
the WSSC is now faced with
with the problem of spending
much more to build a plant
adjacent to the park where
it unquestionably would be
Objectionable to the local
residents. or ultimately
spending an estimated Sc
million to carry sewage to a
regional plant farther south,
or seeing the southern Prince
Georges County area develop
with the temporary expedi-
ents Of individual septic sys-
TENS and small treatment
plants. Congress and The
Star do suburban Maryland
taxpayers a great disservice
when they support this type
of legislation to save"
Mount Vernon's view from a
threat which does not exist.
The Star editorial brings
two important questions to
mind:
Cd What would have been
George Washington's attitude
toward a facility which was
designed to preserve the
health and welfare of thou
sands of his Prince Georges
County neighbors? 1t is true
that some existing homes in
the upper reaches of the
Piscataway Basin are ex-
periencing severe septic tank
failure problems and cannot
receive relief until public
sewers and necessary treat
ment facilities are provided.
It also is true that some de-
velopers along the northern
PiScataway Bay shore are
planning to proceed with the
installation Of small plants if
a regional facility cannot be
built. The inevitable rapid
future growth of this area
will serve to compound the
problem unless public sewers
are provided.
20 And, where would The
Star and Congress suggest
that this essential regional
plant be built, now that they
have declared the Piscata-
way Bay shoreline "off lin
its?" The plant, as mentioned
before, would not have dis
turbed Mount Vernon'S view
and would not have upset any
efforts to preserve the shores
natural beauty. George
Washington, the engineer.
certainly would have recog-
nized the need for a regional
solution to sewage disposal
requirements for this fast
growing community.
Perhaps. The Star can
supply the answers to these
Sc million questions. One
thing is sure, this is 1861
mot 1776); so we can't Let
George Do tt"
Morris V. Spicci
Member, The Washington
Suburban Sanitary
Commission.
Editors note: The Stars
editorials we're directed
against any construction
projects opposite Mount Ver-
non, including the sewage
plant. that would alter the
natural scenery along the
Maryland shore. Other
WSSC officials have been
quoted as saying that other
sites for the plant are avail
able in the general area0