Annandale water main project will take another three months to complete

It’s probably going to take another three months to complete the water main replacement project along Columbia Pike in Annandale, says project supervisor Jeff Bland with Fairfax Water. In about three weeks, the project will shift to nighttime work.

The water main needs to be replaced because it is 40 to 50 years old and starting to leak.

After digging the trench, workers have found water mains are sometimes deeper or shallower than expected, Bland says. The block closest to Little River Turnpike has underground electrical wires, so that may present an additional challenge. The project also includes replacing all fire hydrants along the project area. Four new hydrants have already been installed.

Once the new main is in place, there will be bacteria testing, then it will be connected to all the businesses along the street. That will require the water to be shut off for 15 to 20 minutes, Bland says. That will generally be done at night, or in the morning for bars open at night.

So where does Annandale’s water come from? According to Bland, it depends where you live: Some of if comes from the Potomac and some is from the Occoquan Reservoir.