Newsroom
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Contact: Jason Papacosma 703-228-3613 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Contact: Myllisa Lardieri Kennedy 703-228-3152 cell: 571-722-8721 (voice) 703-228-4611(TTY)
Arlington Residents Cautioned to Avoid Contact with Water in Stretches of Lubber Run & Four Mile Run streams
County officials take steps following sewage spill near Lubber Run Park Amphitheater
ARLINGTON, Va. – Arlington County on Wednesday advised residents to avoid water downstream of a sewage spill in Lubber Run. The area to avoid begins at Lubber Run Park and continues through Four Mile Run at Glencarlyn Park to the Potomac River. This is a precautionary measure following an incident in the area of North Columbus Street at 2nd Street North near the Lubber Run Park amphitheater.
Arlington County alerts residents
A County contractor who was performing work in the area reported the spill at about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday. County crews determined that the cause was a failed sewer diversion plug that was rerouting sewage during work to reline the sewers. The problem has been repaired and County staff is working to clean-up as much of the spill as possible.
Residents are advised to stay away from the affected waters and to keep their pets away until further notice, to eliminate the risk of exposure to untreated sewage. Residents should not fish in the streams or have any contact with the waters – including wading or swimming – until further notice from the County. The advisory to avoid all contact is considered an extra precaution to allow the effect of the discharge to be diminished by natural flushing of the streams. The recreational areas affected include the following parks adjacent to the streams: Lubber Run; Glencarlyn, Barcroft; Shirlington; Jennie Dean; Allie Freed; Bicentennial Gardens.
The County is posting flyers along the affected areas of Lubber Run and Four Mile Run.
NOTE: Residents are reminded that stream water can contain microorganisms that can make people sick, whether the stream is located in an urban area or in the middle of a forest. Even after the discharge is naturally flushed from the streams, the County’s normal precautions for safe use of streams apply. You can find information and safety tips on Arlington streams, including information on reporting stream pollution incidents, on the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services Web site.
Arlington, Va., is a world-class residential, business and tourist location that was originally part of the "10 miles square" parcel of land surveyed in 1791 to be the Nation's Capital. It is the geographically smallest self-governing county in the United States, occupying slightly less than 26 square miles. Arlington maintains a rich variety of stable neighborhoods, quality schools and enlightened land use, and received the Environmental Protection Agency's highest award for "Smart Growth" in 2002. Home to some of the most influential organizations in the world - including the Pentagon - Arlington stands out as one of America's preeminent places to live, visit and do business.