Fairfax Water | FFXnow

Larger water tank approved for Idylwood neighborhood despite concerns

Published October 25, 2024 at 9:00AM

The proposed Poplar Heights water tank (via Fairfax Water)

Poplar Heights is officially getting a new water storage tank with a capacity of 1.25 million gallons, despite continued objections from many residents of the single-family Idylwood neighborhood.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Tuesday (Oct. 22) — with Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn absent — to approve Fairfax Water’s request for a special exception allowing the facility to replace an existing standpipe tank at 7407 Tower Street that can hold 700,000 gallons of water.

News

After tweaks, Idylwood water tank expansion clears hurdle

By Angela Woolsey

Published September 16, 2024 at 1:15PM

The proposed Poplar Heights water tank (via Fairfax Water)

Fairfax Water still intends to build a bigger water tank in Poplar Heights, but the new facility might be less visible than the Idylwood neighborhood’s residents feared.

After being challenged at a lengthy public hearing in July, the water authority revised its lighting, landscaping and construction plans enough to win the Fairfax County Planning Commission’s support for the project last Wednesday (Sept. 11).

News

Big water main break shuts down South George Mason Drive

By Angela Woolsey

Published August 7, 2024 at 9:45AM | Updated August 7, 2024 at 10:56AM

A water main break has closed northbound South George Mason Drive in Bailey's Crossroads (via FCPD/Twitter)

Northbound South George Mason Drive in Bailey’s Crossroads has been closed for over 12 hours due to a major water main break.

The Fairfax County Police Department reported the break near 7313 South George Mason Drive near Route 7 (Leesburg Pike) in the Skyline neighborhood at 9:39 p.m. yesterday (Tuesday). Water can be seen gushing up from under the street in a video shared by the department.

News

Fairfax County seeks to stifle bad smells from Herndon water plant

By James Jarvis

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.

News

Idylwood neighborhood objects to plans for new Fairfax Water tank

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 30, 2024 at 10:30AM

The proposed Poplar Heights water tank (via Fairfax Water)

Fairfax Water’s plan to update and expand the water tank that serves much of Idylwood and Pimmit Hills has run into strong opposition from many residents of the single-family neighborhood that surrounds the site.

Resident after resident testified at a Fairfax County Planning Commission public hearing last Wednesday (July 24) that replacing the existing 700,000-gallon Poplar Heights tank with the 1.25-million-gallon tank proposed by the water authority will irrevocably damage their community and quality of life.

Countywide

Fairfax Water: No quality concerns after use of Washington Aqueduct paused

By Angela Woolsey

Published July 5, 2024 at 11:45AM

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

Fairfax Water customers weren’t affected by the recent Boil Water Advisory that went out to D.C. and Arlington County residents before Independence Day.

The utility, which serves almost 2 million people in Northern Virginia, suspended its use of the Washington Aqueduct early on Wednesday (July 3) before the advisory was issued later that day. Though D.C. and Arlington both lifted the advisory yesterday (Thursday), Fairfax Water says it hasn’t yet resumed getting water from the aqueduct.

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).

Countywide

Bill encouraging data center water studies advances to Virginia House floor for vote

By Ben Peters / Inside NoVA

Published February 12, 2024 at 3:30PM

Some geese float on the Occoquan River (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

A committee in the Virginia House of Delegates on Friday advanced to the House floor a bill that would require localities to conduct water studies prior to approving data centers.

The bill, introduced by Del. Josh Thomas, a freshman Democrat who represents western Prince William County in the 21st District, would encourage local governments undergo site assessment to examine the effect of data centers on water usage, carbon emissions and agricultural resources.

News

Fairfax Water to replace and expand 71-year-old tank in Idylwood

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 11, 2024 at 1:30PM

Fairfax Water plans to replace a water tank that has stood in the Poplar Heights neighborhood since 1952 (via Fairfax Water)

A water tank erected in Idylwood around the time of the Korean War is on its last legs, Fairfax Water says.

The water authority is seeking to replace the 71-year-old Poplar Heights tank with a bigger, elevated tank that will be able to hold approximately 1.25 million gallons of water, according to an application submitted in December to Fairfax County’s planning department.

News

Officials discuss future of Vienna tap water service — possibly leading to Fairfax Water takeover

By Angela Woolsey

Published January 2, 2024 at 1:30PM

Fairfax Water's headquarters in Merrifield (via Google Maps)

The new year may bring changes to how water is provided in and around the Town of Vienna.

The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors authorized staff on Dec. 5 to begin discussions with the town and Fairfax Water about the future of public water delivery service in areas currently served by Vienna Water.