Crews are engaged in high tech inspection of county sewage lines in the Pohick Stream Valley in recent weeks. Emergency repairs like sinkholes, collapses, and floods caused by clogged lines, are safety threats to maintenance crews and the public. The incidence of emergency repair needs is reduced by periodic line inspection.
According to the Burke Connection, "Contracted crews use robotic equipment with closed-circuit television cameras to inspect Fairfax County’s 3,000 miles of pipes that make up its wastewater management system. This newer process, called “inspect to clean,” replaces the more costly “clean and inspect” approach. The camera inspection allows crews to more easily identify portions of the pipe which need attention, before problems become an emergency, without clearing out pipes that do not require maintenance."
As per Burke Connection, "Three-man contractor crews with support personnel, like the crew seen at work in Springfield, work on systems all over the county, and country, putting in 14-day weeks with 4-day rest breaks. In FY-2018, The County inspected 201 miles and cleaned 502 miles of sewer lines to ensure unobstructed, maximum flow. Fairfax County budgeted $78.9 million for wastewater operations and maintenance for FY 2020. Costs of the system are primarily funded by customers for the system that covers 234 square miles of Fairfax County’s 407 square mile area. The County’s FY-2020 budget includes a 4.8 percent increase in sewer service charges; about 28 cents additional per 1,000 gallons."
Maryam
View posts by MaryamMaryam N. is a Senior Writer at Nesbitt Realty. She is an expert on Fairfax County. Maryam has also worked previously as a geologist. She is a foodie and enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants.