Avoid the waters of Gulf Branch downstream from N. Utah Street, county officials say.
That includes the portion of the stream that runs past the Gulf Branch Nature Center. The reason: a blocked sewage line that’s potentially overflowing into the creek.
“Due to overflow from a blocked sanitary sewer main, avoid contact with the Gulf Branch downstream from N Utah St, 35th St N, and Military Road to the Potomac,” said an Arlington Alert message just before 9 a.m. “A County crew is working to clear the pipe.”
A timeline for how long residents should avoid the creek was not given.
After posting its own alert on social media, Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services posted a reminder to residents that “the toilet is not a trash can,” and that anything that’s not a “bodily byproduct” or toilet paper — including wipes regardless of whether they’re labeled “flushable” — should go in a trash can.
Wednesday reminder: The toilet is not a trash can. Send down only bodily byproducts and paper from the roll. Anything else—kitty litter, dental floss and those "flushable" wipes that never break down—can clog plumbing and County sanitary sewer lines. https://t.co/BmMVcgALVV pic.twitter.com/R3HZyRoCNe
— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) May 29, 2024
