Dept. of Public Works | FFXnow

Fairfax County seeks to stifle bad smells from Herndon water plant

Published July 31, 2024 at 1:30PM

Getting tap water in a glass (via Swanky Fella on Unsplash)

Complaints from Herndon residents about a pungent odor from the James Corbalis Water Treatment Plant have led Fairfax County officials to consider diverting the wastewater into the sewer system.

Dranesville District Supervisor Jimmy Bierman explained at a Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday (Tuesday) that the issue began several weeks ago when rising algae levels in the Potomac River led to more organic matter being discharged into a state-permitted tributary of Sugarland Run, resulting in the unpleasant odor.

Countywide

Fairfax County offers financial aid to protect homes from flooding

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 12, 2024 at 2:30PM

A flooded neighborhood road (courtesy DPWES)

Amid an extended stretch of dangerous heat, humidity and potential drought, flooding hasn’t been the D.C. area’s top meterological concern this summer, but the possibility might’ve crossed some minds during a passing downpour on Wednesday (July 10) — remnants of Hurricane Beryl, which has devastated other parts of the U.S. and the Caribbean.

With climate change exacerbating storms and other extreme weather, Fairfax County has created a new grant program that will reimburse residents who shore up their home against flooding.

News

County begins design work for new Embry Rucker shelter in Reston

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 21, 2024 at 11:30AM

The existing Embry Rucker Community Shelter on Bowman Towne Drive in Reston (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

An initial design concept is in the works for a new Embry Rucker Community Shelter in Reston.

The Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) began preliminary concept design and programming evaluations in May to establish an updated cost estimate for the long-planned emergency homeless shelter, according to public information officer Sharon North.

News

Herndon seeks input on Ferndale Avenue, Park and Monroe traffic calming

By Angela Woolsey

Published June 13, 2024 at 1:30PM

The Park Avenue and Monroe Street intersection in Herndon (via Google Maps)

The Town of Herndon is looking to improve the designs of Ferndale Avenue and the Park Avenue and Monroe Street intersection, two spots with histories of crashes.

Staff with the town’s Department of Public Works will present their initial proposals for the two projects at a community meeting tonight (Thursday) in the town council’s chambers at 765 Lynn Street. The meeting is scheduled to last from 7-8:30 p.m., and Spanish translation services will be available.

Countywide

Fairfax supervisors balk at cost of flood prevention programs amid budget constraints

By James Jarvis

Published May 28, 2024 at 11:30AM | Updated July 12, 2024 at 11:20AM

Wolftrap Creek frequently floods Old Courthouse Road at Besley Road (file photo)

Fairfax County staff are seeking additional funding to hire more personnel who could help expedite ongoing and future flood mitigation projects across the county.

However, with the county facing increasing financial challenges, worsened by inflation and reduced commercial tax revenue, some members of the Board of Supervisors said at a recent land use committee meeting that they are reluctant to commit to expanding the budget’s list of indefinite expenditures.

Countywide

Fairfax County explores options for reducing how much trash it burns

By Acacia James

Published May 21, 2024 at 1:30PM

A Fairfax County solid waste management truck at the I-66 Transfer Station (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Fairfax County’s Department of Public Works and Environmental Services (DPWES) is working to develop a new 20-year plan for managing solid waste.

The county produces roughly 1.2 million tons of trash every year, processing about 630,000 tons as municipal solid waste (MSW). Currently, about 43.9% of waste is diverted from incineration. However, the county adopted a Community-wide Energy and Climate Action Plan (CECAP) that set a goal of 90% diversion by 2040.

News

Firefighters say they ‘Wiehle Like’ new pedestrian bridge at Wiehle Avenue

By Vernon Miles

Published April 15, 2024 at 11:45AM

Message board at Fairfax County Fire & Rescue Station 25 (photo via Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department/Facebook)

Firefighters at Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Station 25 shared a cheeky message welcoming the new bridge at the Washington and Old Dominion Trail.

“We Wiehle like this new bridge,” said a note on the message sign outside the fire station.

News

Pedestrian bridge slated for installation over Wiehle Avenue this weekend

By Fatimah Waseem

Published April 11, 2024 at 9:30AM

The bridge will be installed in sections on Saturday (Photo via FCDOT).

A new pedestrian bridge is slated for installation this weekend over Wiehle Avenue at the Washington & Old Dominion Trail, according to the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services.

The installation will prompt the closure of Wiehle Avenue from midnight to 5 a.m. this Saturday (April 13).

News

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve to close for emergency wastewater pipe cleaning

By Angela Woolsey

Published March 26, 2024 at 10:15AM | Updated March 29, 2024 at 3:28PM

Repairs are needed to clear pipes that carry wastewater from McLean through Scott's Run Nature Preserve and across the Potomac River (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

(Updated at 3:30 p.m. on 3/29/2024) Clogged-up pipes will force Scott’s Run Nature Preserve to close for more than a month, starting later this week.

Contractors will begin work on the “emergency project” to clear and repair wastewater pipes in the McLean park this Thursday (March 28), the Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services recently announced.

Countywide

County should prioritize EV charging and employee compensation, environmental council says

By Acacia James

Published March 1, 2024 at 11:00AM

Electric vehicle chargers (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

To further its environmental goals, Fairfax County’s to-do list should include building an electric vehicle charging network, addressing “critical” staff shortages, and addressing development pressure, the Environmental Quality Advisory Council (EQAC) says in a new report.

An employee compensation policy update to attract and retain workers in departments such as wastewater and solid waste was the top recommendation in the 2023 Annual Report on the Environment (ARE), EQAC Chair Larry Zaragoza told the Board of Supervisors during its environmental committee meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 29).