WOODBRIDGE — The work to replace a water line from Fairfax to Prince William County went off without a hitch.
Prince William County Executive Christopher Martino said the project wrapped up last Friday and resulted in no loss of water for any customers in the eastern portion of the county, despite fears from officials and declaration of a water emergency made ahead of the scheduled work.
The water emergency is canceled, Martino added.
The new, larger water line replaces an aging line that provides drinking water from the Griffith Water Treatment Plant near Lorton, across from the Workhouse Arts Center. The replacement comes as Fairfax Water is working to upgrade its infrastructure in the region to better meet a growing demand for service, said Fairfax Water spokeswoman Susie Miller.
Except for a small leak on a flange that was repaired in April, there had been no leaks on the aging pipe prior to its replacement, added Miller.
The work comes ahead of a plan to convert a mined rock quarry operated by Vulcan Materials Company located just north of Occoquan into a new reservoir capable of holding 17 billion gallons of water.
From a 2017 press release:
“Between 2010 and 2040 the population served by Fairfax Water, including both retail and wholesale areas, will increase by over 650,000 residents and nearly 550,000 employees working in the area,” said [Philip W. Allin, Fairfax Water’s Chairman]. “The Vulcan Quarry can meet future water supply demands brought on by this growth.”
The reservoir will provide significant additional storage for use in the event of a prolonged regional drought. The reservoir will be developed in two stages: the northern part of the quarry will be transferred to Fairfax Water by the end of 2035 after quarry operations cease in that portion of the property; and the remainder of the quarry will be transferred to Fairfax Water in 2085 after quarry operations cease entirely.
Fairfax Waters provides water to the two firms provide drinking water to eastern Prince William County homes and businesses — The Prince William County Service Authority and Virginia American Water.
