The Virginia Department of Health has lifted its remaining recreational water advisory for the Potomac River.
Today’s announcement ends restrictions that had been in place for more than a month following a massive sewage spill that sent millions of gallons of raw waste into the river.
The Virginia Department of Health has partially lifted a recreational water advisory for the Potomac River, though the warning remains in place for a 4.7-mile stretch upstream of Chain Bridge.
VDH issued the advisory on Feb. 13 out of caution following a sewage spill in the Potomac that occurred Jan. 19 and subsequent sewage discharges in early February. The situation has been monitored by Virginia, Maryland and D.C. since then, and a bipartisan group of D.C.-area lawmakers recently sought additional federal funding for the repairs and cleanup.
One of the fiercest advocates for action and advocacy after last month’s mass sewage spill has a long background in fighting for the Potomac River.
Potomac Riverkeeper Dean Naujoks was one of the first at the scene of the burst Potomac Interceptor pipe in Montgomery County on Jan. 19.
A coalition of D.C.-area representatives is seeking more funding for infrastructure upgrades as authorities continue to monitor the effects of a massive sewage spill in the Potomac.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) was among 14 members of Congress from the region who requested federal funding today (Tuesday) to rehabilitate and modernize the burst Potomac Interceptor. The delegation is also seeking additional funds for wastewater infrastructure nationwide following a recent briefing on efforts to repair the sewer line and mitigate health risks.
Just because a wipe says it’s “flushable,” that doesn’t mean it’s fit for Arlington’s sewage system.
That’s what the county’s Department of Environmental Services is reminding residents after a wad of wipes contributed to a sewage overflow last week at a ruptured sewage pipe upstream from Arlington on the Potomac River.
Tests of water samples from the Potomac River are reporting dangerously high levels of E. coli following a rupture in a sewage pipe upstream from Arlington.
The Potomac Riverkeeper Network recorded bacteria levels 60 times higher than what is considered safe for human contact in a sample taken at Fletchers Cove on Friday, the organization announced in a press release yesterday (Monday). This is in D.C., across the river from Potomac Overlook Regional Park.
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.
A sewage leak from an overflowing pipe has prompted a warning avoid contact with a local stream.
“The public is advised to avoid contact with Donaldson Run below N Utah Street due to overflow from a sanitary sewer line,” Arlington County said in an alert this (Wednesday) afternoon. “County staff are investigating.”
Stay out of Four Mile Run from the Bon Air rose garden to the Potomac River for at least the next day or two.
That’s the message from Arlington County following the release of sewage into the local stream.
An “emergency utility repair” at Arlington’s sewage treatment plant led to a sewage release into Four Mile Run.
The sewage release happened this morning at the plant on S. Glebe Road. County officials are warning people to avoid the stream between S. Arlington Ridge Road and the Potomac.
Locals should avoid contact with Little Pimmit Run north of Williamsburg Blvd due to a sewage leak.
A leak in a sanitary sewer line may be contaminating the stream, the county said Tuesday afternoon in an Arlington Alert.
Another Sewage Release in Four Mile Run — “Avoid contact with Four Mile Run Creek downstream of 7th St S until further notice due to a sanitary sewage release. County Water/Sewer/Streets is responding.” [Twitter]
ACFD Rolls Out New Medic Unit — “As we progress through the COVID-19 pandemic, ACFD continues to adjust our response to ensure the best service and safety for our community. Yesterday we deployed a new resource that will provide rapid on-scene assessment to identify non-critical patients with potential or confirmed #COVID related complaints.” [Facebook, NBC 4]
