Commissioners
Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission
14501 Sweitzer Lane
Laurel, MD 20707

February 13, 2004

RE: WSSC and Sewer Leak Responsibility

Dear Commissioners:

Friends of Sligo Creek is committed to improving water quality in the sub-watershed of Sligo Creek, knowing its effect on the Anacostia River and the Chesapeake Bay. We are concerned about the leakage of raw sewage from WSSC sewer and storm drain systems because it results in extraordinary levels of coliform bacteria in the region's waterways. If the WSSC wants to increase rates to users, then the community deserves to see an improvement in the quality of our water resources. We urge you to ensure that the WSSC begins actively monitoring its infrastructure to identify places where sewage is leaking into surrounding waterways and fix these problem areas, rather than waiting for citizens to happen to discover them.

Sligo Creek has suffered at least two major sewer leaks this year. Recently in Takoma Woods, where water drains directly into Sligo Creek, one of our members, a citizen of Takoma Park who was walking his dog, spotted a serious sewage leak and reported it.  Major construction was necessary to fix it. Had someone not been in the woods, and not placed that call, who knows how long the raw sewage would have spilled into the creek?

In a January 29th Washington Post article describing how pollution is impeding the restoration of the Anacostia River, it was reported that Anacostia Watershed Society tests "have found that up to 14 percent of the fecal bacteria in the water by Bladensburg Waterfront Park comes from humans -- suggesting that some sewer pipes in suburban Maryland are leaking or are illegally hooked up to storm drains." Surely, none of us want Montgomery County and its watersheds to have such a reputation.

We hope you agree this situation should change. Please ensure that the while the WSSC is pondering rate hikes, it also systematically monitors its infrastructure and eliminates sewage outflows to all local streams.