Arlington County has lifted the advisory it issued on Saturday, July 11, to avoid the water in Donaldson Run near Military Road after the discovery of a broken sewage pipe and sewage release. During the precaution period, the section of broken pipe was repaired as well as the protective structure that surrounds the pipe.
The precaution period also allowed the stream to naturally dilute and flush the release. E. coli bacteria levels downstream of the break were tested the week of July 27. Test results were typical of those regularly collected as part of the county’s bacteria monitoring program and did not indicate the presence of sewage.
Residents are reminded that any stream water can contain microorganisms that can make people sick. Even after the discharge is naturally flushed from the streams, the county’s normal precautions for safe use of streams apply. To find information and safety tips on Arlington streams, including information on reporting stream pollution incidents, visit the Arlington County Department of Environmental Services website: http://departments.arlingtonva.us/des/.