Sewage incident in Falls Church area
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| Greenway Downs Park, with the creek in the background. [Google Maps] |
Residents have been
warned to stay out of a small creek that runs along Custis Parkway in the Falls
Church area of Fairfax County following a break in a sewer line.
warned to stay out of a small creek that runs along Custis Parkway in the Falls
Church area of Fairfax County following a break in a sewer line.
According to
Mansker, someone who lives across the street from the creek noticed a substance
getting into the creek that smelled like sewage and contacted the county, says Bob
Mansker, president of the Greenway Downs Citizens Association.
Mansker, someone who lives across the street from the creek noticed a substance
getting into the creek that smelled like sewage and contacted the county, says Bob
Mansker, president of the Greenway Downs Citizens Association.
He says county
staff responded immediately and put up tape and signs July 30 urging people to stay
away from the area. The creek, in the median in the middle of Custis Parkway, feeds
into Tripps Run and, ultimately, into Lake Barcroft.
staff responded immediately and put up tape and signs July 30 urging people to stay
away from the area. The creek, in the median in the middle of Custis Parkway, feeds
into Tripps Run and, ultimately, into Lake Barcroft.
The problem was a sewer
line that collapsed on private property at 6830 Custis Parkway, says Irene
Haske, spokesperson for the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. She says staff from the wastewater management division vacuumed up
the sewage and cleaned, flushed, and deodorized the county sewer line before
the sewage reached the creek or Greenway Downs Park.
line that collapsed on private property at 6830 Custis Parkway, says Irene
Haske, spokesperson for the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. She says staff from the wastewater management division vacuumed up
the sewage and cleaned, flushed, and deodorized the county sewer line before
the sewage reached the creek or Greenway Downs Park.
The county health
department, code enforcement department, and park authority were notified about
the incident, Haske says, and, “because there is no sanitary sewer facility at
the address, the residents were asked to leave the house until repairs are made
to their line.”
department, code enforcement department, and park authority were notified about
the incident, Haske says, and, “because there is no sanitary sewer facility at
the address, the residents were asked to leave the house until repairs are made
to their line.”
Sewer lines on
private property – between a home and the edge of the property line – are the
responsibility of the homeowner, and repairs can be costly, she says. The older
the home, the more likely a break can occur, especially if the sewer line is affected
by tree roots or clogged with anything other than water.
private property – between a home and the edge of the property line – are the
responsibility of the homeowner, and repairs can be costly, she says. The older
the home, the more likely a break can occur, especially if the sewer line is affected
by tree roots or clogged with anything other than water.
The county is
planning a public education campaign warning residents not to flush things like
diapers or wet naps in toilets or dispose of leftover food – especially meat or
high-fat items – down sinks. Fatty food solidifies in cold weather and can
cause sewage backups into a house.
planning a public education campaign warning residents not to flush things like
diapers or wet naps in toilets or dispose of leftover food – especially meat or
high-fat items – down sinks. Fatty food solidifies in cold weather and can
cause sewage backups into a house.
Anyone who detects a sewage odor is urged to call the county’s 24-hour
wastewater trouble response center, 703-323-1211.