Environmental Services
Drinking Water and Sewer FAQs
Drinking Water Quality
Arlington County drinking water is safe and meets all federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) safety standards. As always, if customers have special health concerns, they may want to consider extra precautions.
Where does Arlington’s water come from?
Arlington’s water is provided by the Washington Aqueduct Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. They treat water drawn from the Potomac River and transmit it to Arlington County where we distribute it to our customers. Water provided by the Aqueduct meets strict EPA standards for safe water (read the currrent water quality report).
What is being done to ensure the safety of our drinking water?
Arlington County Department of Environmental Services works with the Washington Aqueduct Division and our partners at DC Water and Sewer Authority and the City of Falls Church to ensure that the treatment plants are producing water in compliance with all existing regulations and that we are positioned to address forthcoming regulations. A significant improvement in water quality was the conversion to disinfection with Chloramines starting in 2000. This change resulted in significant reductions in disinfection by-product formation as compared to our previous practice of treating with free chlorine all year.
Q. What is Chloramine water disinfection and how is it different from Chlorine disinfection?
A. Disinfection is a step in the water treatment process to assure the biological safety of water. Chlorine, Chloramines and other chemicals can be used as disinfectants. Read more about chloramine and its use as a disinfectant.....
Lead and Orthophosphate
A. Orthophosphate is a commonly used corrosion inhibitor that is added to finished drinking water. It is an odorless, colorless, tasteless substance which is approved by the EPA for use in drinking water treatment, and by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for use in consumer food products. Phosphoric acid is commonly found in soft drinks, acidified skim milk, and some cheeses.
Q. Why is orthophosphate being added to our drinking water?
A. Some homes in the District of Columbia have exhibited elevated levels of lead in their drinking water since 2001. It is believed that the source of the lead levels in these homes is from lead plumbing components leaching into the drinking water. Orthophosphate acts as a corrosion inhibitor by forming a protective film on the interior of pipes which protects the pipe material from the corrosive effects of water, which reduces or eliminates the potential for lead leaching into the water.
Q. Is orthophosphate safe?
A. Yes. Orthophosphate is approved for use in drinking water treatment by the EPA, and is also certified by the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF), and independent international testing organization that certifies and writes standards for products, including drinking water treatment chemicals, to help protect consumers, as well as the food, air, water and consumer goods that we use. In addition to the Washington Aqueduct Division, which supplies Arlington’s water, the public water systems of Fairfax County, Alexandria, Montgomery County, and Prince George’s County all use some form of phosphate in their treatment.
Q. Will orthophosphate have any effect upon my drinking water?
A. Orthophosphate should not affect the taste, color, or smell of your drinking water. A possible temporary effect of the orthophosphate treatment is red water. Red water is a term used to describe discolored water that results from disturbance of iron oxide (rust) deposits inside water mains. Orthophosphate may cause this to occur in the initial stages of the application, temporarily resulting in red or rust colored water for some residents. If you experience red water, allow your cold water tap to run until the water runs clear. If this does not occur after several minutes, call the Arlington Water Control Center at 703-228-6555. Residents who experience red water should not cook, drink, or wash clothes until they have flushed their cold water tap and the water is clear again.
Q. Does Arlington have a problem with lead in the drinking water?
A. No. Extensive testing has demonstrated that Arlington does not have homes registering lead levels similar to those found in the District. In fact, Arlington has remained in compliance with the EPA’s Lead and Copper regulations since their implementation in 1992. Extensive research in Arlington has failed to turn up any lead service lines or lead pipes inside homes.
Q. If there’s not a problem with lead in Arlington’s water, why is orthophosphate being added to our water?
A. First, while lead testing results show that Arlington County is in compliance with federal regulations, lowering concentrations is still possible, and the addition of orthophosphate should help in that regard by coating the metallic surfaces that contain some lead such as older solders and brass or bronze fixtures or piping. Second, there is no practical way to treat the drinking water differently for the three jurisdictions that receive water from the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant in Washington DC. This facility (along with the MacMillan Water Treatment Plant, also in DC) is run by the Washington Aqueduct Division (WAD) of the Army Corps of Engineers. The WAD provides drinking water to the District of Columbia, the City of Falls Church and Arlington County.
Q. How will Arlington County be monitoring the effects of orthophosphate?
A. Arlington County has been conducting extensive testing of water quality parameters for the past year to ensure that the desired concentration of orthophosphate is being achieved throughout our distribution system, and to ensure that no unanticipated side effects result from the additional treatment.
Q. Are any monitoring results available?
We are pleased to announce that during the period of enhanced testing (2004-2005), Arlington County has remained in compliance with federal lead regulations. Accordingly, Arlington has now received approval from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to perform monitoring for lead once per year rather than twice.
General Water Questions
Q. My water is cloudy and is milky colored. What should I do?
A. This is typically the air in the line. If you run your water for a short time, it should clear. If not, call our maintenance personnel on our 24-hour line at (703) 228-6555.
Q. My water has a reddish tint. What should I do?
A. The reddish tint is iron oxide from the water distribution piping. Sudden changes in the system, such as when a fire hydrant is opened, can stir up the iron oxide sediments and cause temporary discoloration. If you run your water for a short time it should clear. If not call the 24-hour line at (703) 228-6555 and a crew will be sent to flush the line. County crews flush the lines through fire hydrants during the year to minimize the build up of sediments in pipes, which helps reduce chances of discolored water. Even though the water is discolored and has sediments, disinfectants are still present and the water is safe once it clears up.
Q. The reddish water caused a load of clothes to be discolored. What should I do?
A. Call (703) 228-6555 and an operator will be dispatched to deliver a special laundry detergent to your home. Use this product according to the directions, and this will remove discoloration from the clothes. Please keep the clothes wet until the product is delivered.
Q. How do I get my drinking water tested?
A. You may contact a private laboratory for individual analysis of your water. Labs are listed in the yellow pages. The County continually performs water quality testing in accordance with State and Federal Regulations. We are unable to provide testing on an individual basis.
Q. I think I have a water leak, what should I do?
A. The homeowner is responsible for the pipes within the house, as well as the water service line from the house to the water meter box. If you think you have a leak you may request a leak investigation. You may contact the Customer Service Call Center of the Utilities Services Bureau at (703) 228-6570. If you see water coming out of the ground near your water meter box please call Water, Sewer, and Streets at (703) 228-6555. We will investigate this at no charge to you.
Q. What is the best way to turn the water off at my house in an emergency or for repairs? How?
A. You can turn the water off inside your home/building at the main valve. The main valve is generally located where the water service enters the house/building. You should maintain this valve so it is easily accessed in case of an emergency. If you cannot turn your water off, and need emergency assistance please call (703) 228-6555.
Q. Whom should I call if I notice water running down the street?
A. If you notice an unusual discharge of water, whether it is in the street, from a meter, or a hydrant, call (703) 228-6555 and a crew will be dispatched to investigate the situation and take the appropriate action.
Q. Can I paint the fire hydrant near my home to make it more decorative?
A. No. The yellow color of County fire hydrants is designed to allow it to stand out from its surroundings and make it easily identified by fire fighters. Also, the color on the top of the hydrant identifies the flow that can be expected from that particular hydrant.
Q. There are colored paint marks in the grass and on the road in my neighborhood. What does this mean?
A. These paint marks are probably placed by Miss Utility locating crews, and they identify the location of underground utilities for scheduled excavation. Red indicates electric, orange indicates telephone or cable TV, yellow indicates gas, blue indicates water and green indicates sewer.
Q. There is a County crew working in my neighborhood. They have cut and removed the roadway surface, but they are not digging. Why aren’t they finishing the job?
A.State law forbids the opening of a trench without the underground utilities being marked. If there is a water main break, a call is made to Miss Utility for an emergency underground utility location at the site. It may take two to three hours for the locators to arrive because of a backlog of work. The crew may remain on the job site, and even start breaking pavement while waiting for the locators. As soon as the locators arrive, the work will resume.
Sewer Questions
Q. Sewage is backing up into my basement, who should I call or what should I do?
A. We recommend you first contact the 24-hour line at (703) 228-6555. We will flush the public sanitary sewer you are connected to at no charge. This will help determine where the blockage is. If the blockage is in your house lateral we will advise that you call a plumber.
Q. What can I do to prevent sewer back ups?
A. Be careful what you put down the drain. Several items that should not be put into your sewer system are paper towels, diapers, grease and any item that will not dissolve. Read more about disposing of Fats, oils and grease and why you should not put them down the drain. Read some tips about what to put in your garbage disposal.
