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Virginia American Water's annual hydrant flushing program is continuing its rolling march across Alexandria, with crews now active in two new zones and preparing to move into three more sections of the city next week, according to alerts the utility has posted on its website.
The utility announced its citywide flushing program on March 27 and began the work on March 30, saying it was the yearly maintenance required to keep water service reliable. "Scheduled annually to maintain and improve water service, flushing removes mineral deposits and sediment from water mains, helping us to continue to provide our customers in Alexandria with high-quality water service," Charlie Piekanski, vice president of operations at Virginia American Water, said in the March announcement. The work, he said, is "an essential part of Virginia American Water's maintenance program."
The company has now issued five separate notifications for the current round of work, each covering a different section of the city. Two of the zones went active Friday, April 24, and will run through May 1. The remaining three begin April 27, with the last of them starting April 28. All of the work is scheduled to wrap up by 4 p.m. on May 8.
The zones that began Friday cover a large portion of the Seminary Hill area, taking in Episcopal High School, Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria City High School, Beth El Hebrew Congregation and Fort Williams Park, bounded roughly by West Braddock Road, North Quaker Lane, Janney's Lane and King Street. A second active zone runs as a narrow north-south corridor along Russell Road, stretching from Arlandria south through Potomac West and the west edge of Del Ray down to the King Street Metro area near the George Washington Masonic National Memorial.
Starting April 27, crews will move into two additional zones: one covering the Arlandria and North Ridge area north of West Glebe Road, and another covering the Taylor Run neighborhood, running from Janney's Lane south toward Duke Street and King Street.
Flushing in the fifth zone — a large section of North Ridge and Rosemont bounded roughly by North Quaker Lane, Russell Road and West Braddock Road, including areas around George Mason Park, Westminster Presbyterian Church and St. Stephen's and St. Agnes Lower School — is scheduled to begin April 28.
Crews will work between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays. The process involves simultaneously opening fire hydrants in a given area to create increased water flows, and also includes flushing blowoff valves on dead-end water mains, the utility said. No interruptions in water service are expected, but customers may notice short periods of low water pressure or discolored water while crews are working nearby.
Virginia American Water advised customers in areas scheduled for flushing to draw water for cooking before work begins, keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator, and check for discolored water before running a washing machine or dishwasher. Residents who experience discolored water after flushing is complete should run only the cold water taps at the lowest level of the home for three to five minutes, until the water runs clear. If water pressure or volume seems low afterward, the company said, customers should check and clean their faucet aerators.
Piekanski asked residents to stay clear of crews while they are working, citing safety for both customers and employees.
The utility sends notifications to customers in affected areas through its mass notification system, and encourages customers to update their contact information and alert preferences through their MyWater accounts at login.amwater.com. Non-customers can monitor amwater.com/vaaw/alerts for the latest updates, where maps of each affected area are also posted.
Virginia American Water is the largest regulated water company in the state, serving approximately 384,000 people, according to the company. It is a subsidiary of American Water, a publicly traded utility based in Camden, New Jersey, that traces its history to 1886.
