Dante, Lee F., assistant corporation counsel and general counsel of Interstate Compact on Potomac River Basin... _ _ _ 5 Jackson, Norman E., director, District of Columbia Department of 5 Love, Col. William J., district engineer (Baltimore District), Corps of 5 Miller, Dr. Albert P., Jr., director, Development Planning Research Programs, Maryland Department of State Planning 5 Sachs, Herbert M., chief, Water Resources Planning, Maryland Department of Water Resources- 5 PREPARED STATEMENTS Jackson, Norman E., director, District of Columbia Department of 10 Love, Col. William J., district engineer (Baltimore District), Corps of 12 Sachs, Herbert M., chief, Water Resources Planning, Maryland Department of Water Resources... 14 APPENDIX Water resources law, State of Maryland, 1970 fiscal year.. 19 WATER SUPPLY FACILITIES OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1969 U.S. SENATE, COMMITTEE ON THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:35 a.m., in room 6226, New Senate Office Building, Senator Joseph D. Tydings (chairman) presiding. Present: Senator Tydings. Also present: John T. McEvoy, staff director; David A. Cooper, counsel; James S. Medill, minority counsel; and Edith B. Moore, assistant chief clerk. The CHAIRMAN. Today the Senate District Committee meets to consider legislation authorizing the District government to enter into an agreement to pay its share of the costs of construction of water supply facilities. Although the legislation is applicable to all future facilities, we're specifically concerned today with the construction of the Bloomington Dam and Reservoir on the North Branch of the Potomac River. This reservoir can provide vitally needed water resources for the entire Potomac Basin. It is my hope we can move a step closer to the realization of that goal by acting on the legislation before us today. Last summer the city of Washington came perilously close to running out of water. Fortunately, a rapid increase in rainfall prevented the water supply from exhaustion and almost inundated the northern counties of Virginia. In 1966, restrictions had to be imposed on water usage in the Washington area, because the supply from the Potomac was simply not capable of meeting the demands. Relying solely on the Potomac flow or a sudden and heavy rainfall cannot provide the kind of water resources needed for the fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. Every year of delay raises the fear of one day the water running out entirely. The current population of the National Capital region, including Prince Georges and Montgomery Counties in Maryland, is 2.6 million people. By 1985 it is expected this will increase to 4.5 million and by the year 2000 to over 7 million people. The increasing population will strain even the additional resources that could be constructed within that time. Therefore, we must move ahead with a sense of urgency to prepare to meet the future demands. Although the need for additional water supply resources was recognized by Congress when it authorized the construction of Bloomington Dam nearly 8 years ago, little has been accomplished as of now. I have continually urged for the early construction of the Bloom ington Dam and Reservoir, but I understand it will be delayed least another 10 months because of the inflationary pressures on the Federal budget. By authorizing the District to enter negotiations for its share of costs in projects of this kind, the legislation before us today moves closer to completion of this vital water supply facility. We are delighted to call as our first witness, Mr. Lee F. Dante. Assistant Corporation Counsel and General Counsel of Interstate Compact on Potomac River Basin, and Mr. Norman E. Jackson, D. rector of the District of Columbia Department of Sanitary Engineering. Gentleman, would you come forward and honor us with your presence. Mr. JACKSON. May I request your permission to have Colonel Love of the Corps of Engineers and also Mr. Herb Sachs to appear with us at the same time? The CHAIRMAN. Yes; that would be very helpful. I will now place in the record a copy of S. 3009, the bill which is under consideration today, and a copy of the staff memorandum concerning that bill. (The documents referred to follow :) Mr. TYDINGS introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the District of Columbia A BILL To authorize the Commissioner of the District of Columbia to enter into contracts for the payment of the District's equitable portions of the costs of reservoirs on the Potomac River and its tributaries, and for other purposes. 1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That the Commissioner of the District of Columbia is hereby 4 authorized to contract, within an amount specified in a Dis5 trict of Columbia appropriation Act, with the United States, 6 State in the Potomac River Basin, any agency or politi any 7 cal subdivision thereof, and any other competent State or 8 local authority, with respect to the payment by the District 9 of Columbia to the United States, either directly or indirectly, п |