Dept. of Environmental Services | ARLnow.com

Morning Notes

Published January 16, 2018 at 9:50AM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:56PM

APS Named Best School System in Va. — Arlington Public Schools is the best public school system in Virginia, according to a new set of state-by-state rankings. APS received an A+ rating for academics, diversity and teachers, and an A rating for health and safety. [Business Insider]

DES Scrambles to Deal With Water Main Breaks — Staff from Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services had their hands full again over the holiday weekend, dealing with numerous water main breaks in various parts of the county. “A number of Arlington residents experienced low pressure/no water issues” as a result of the breaks, DES said. At least one significant break, along Wilson Blvd in the Bluemont neighborhood, is still being repaired as of Tuesday morning. [Facebook, Twitter]

News

County Crews Have Repaired Dozens of Water Main Breaks Since Mid-December

By ARLnow.com

Published January 8, 2018 at 4:30PM | Updated January 8, 2018 at 4:54PM

Arlington County crews have been working through holidays and frigid wind chill temperatures to repair dozens of water main breaks over the past three weeks.

Since Dec. 17, there have been 38 water main breaks, which have affected the water service of up to 1,500 residents, according to Arlington Dept. of Environmental Services spokeswoman Kathryn O’Brien. Five water main breaks happened New Year’s weekend, prompting crews to work through what is a holiday for many.

Weather

Light Snow Falls on Arlington, Tricky Evening Commute Ahead

By Chris Teale

Published December 15, 2017 at 3:45PM

Light snowflakes fell on Arlington County in the early afternoon, with some sticking to grassy areas.

The snow began around lunchtime, and at 1:30 p.m. the National Weather Service tweeted that the main concern is a “thin slippery layer on untreated roads.” Anyone driving home this afternoon and evening should be careful of any slick conditions.

News

No Water, Traffic Delays on N. Glebe Road for Emergency Water Main Repairs

By Chris Teale

Published December 12, 2017 at 2:45PM

Some residents in Waverly Hills could experience water outages and traffic delays while crews carry out emergency water main repairs.

Crews from the county’s Department of Environmental Services are out on N. Glebe Road between 18th Street N. and 19th Street N. making the emergency repairs, near Glebe Elementary School.

Weather

County Prepares Ahead for Forecasted Snow Tonight, Saturday Morning

By Chris Teale

Published December 8, 2017 at 10:00AM | Updated December 8, 2017 at 1:42PM

The Capital Weather Gang reports that as Friday night wears on, the chances of light snow, or a mix of snow and rain, will increase. A mix of snow and rain is likely to fall during Saturday, with as much as an inch or two expected to accumulate depending on the severity of the storm.

County government has been planning all year for any winter weather, including budgeting $1.4 million for snow removal, stockpiling 9,200 tons of salt and spending 1,950 hours training snow crews. The team is made up of 92 drivers and 46 trucks.

News

Donaldson Run Sewage Leak Stopped Overnight, Repairs Continue Today

By Chris Teale

Published November 14, 2017 at 11:15AM

UPDATE: The sewage line leak into Donaldson Run was stopped overnight with a bypass installation. Pipe repairs continue. Photo shows the remote location of the leak, adjacent to Zachary Taylor Park. pic.twitter.com/OcLdVOcjCz

— Arlington Department of Environmental Services (@ArlingtonDES) November 14, 2017

News

Sewage Leaks into Donaldson Run Stream After Pipe Breaks

By Chris Teale

Published November 13, 2017 at 3:30PM | Updated November 13, 2017 at 4:10PM

A broken sewer pipe caused a sewage leak into the Donaldson Run stream, affecting the water in two parks in Arlington County.

A spokesman for the county’s Department of Environmental Services said a resident reported discharge of sewage into the stream in Zachary Taylor Park (2900 Military Road) this morning.

Around Town

County to Accept Pumpkins for Composting on Saturday

By Chris Teale

Published November 1, 2017 at 11:30AM

With the candy collected, the monsters mashed and the ghouls gone, Arlingtonians are anticipating trash day so that Halloween haunts us no longer.

This year, however, there is an option for getting rid of one Halloween staple in a decidedly un-scary, eco-friendly way: Arlington residents can drop off their pumpkins for composting on Saturday.

Traffic

N. Cleveland Street Closed for Water Main Repairs

By Chris Teale

Published October 12, 2017 at 1:45PM

A section of N. Cleveland Street off Lee Highway will be closed until this afternoon as crews make emergency repairs to a water main.

A spokeswoman for the county’s Department of Environmental Services said the repairs on the 1900 block of N. Cleveland Street in the North Highlands neighborhood are being made to a six-inch water main. The spokeswoman said the water for between 50 and 100 customers will be affected.

News

Leeway-Overlee Residents Criticize Construction Project Delays

By Chris Teale

Published October 11, 2017 at 3:30PM

A major road construction project in Leeway-Overlee has drawn the ire of some nearby residents, who say there appears to be “no end in sight.”

The project by the county’s Department of Environmental Services involves adding a new sidewalk, curb and gutter to 24th Street N. between N. Illinois and N. Kensington streets, as well as new pipes to help with stormwater management. At the same time, similar work is being done on N. Illinois Street from 22nd Street N. to Lee Highway.

News

Workers Replacing Arlington Mill Center Gym Floor After Water Damage

By Chris Teale

Published September 26, 2017 at 11:15AM

Water damage from a March winter storm has prompted the replacement of the gym floor at the Arlington Mill Community Center.

Staff first noticed water damage to the wooden gym floor in late spring. They investigated, and found that water leaked into the building after the snow on March 14, according to a spokeswoman for the Arlington’s Dept. of Environmental Services.

News

New Bike Trail Section Set for Washington Blvd

By Chris Teale

Published September 12, 2017 at 3:30PM

Arlington County is set to add a new section of bicycle and pedestrian trail along Washington Blvd.

The Arlington County Board is scheduled this weekend to consider a plan for the second phase of the trail, running north along Washington Blvd from Towers Park — near Columbia Pike — to 2nd Street S. It will then link with the first phase of the trail along Washington Blvd, between Arlington Blvd and S. Walter Reed Drive.