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Sewage Contamination in Arlington County Stream

By: Jessica Jordan // October 18, 2010
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Environmental authorities in Arlington County, Virginia are advising residents to steer clear of a stream that's been tainted with sewage.

The contaminated area of the Upper Long Branch stream begins near the Long Branch Nature Center and continues through Four Mile Run and flows down to the Potomac. Officials are advising residents to avoid drinking water from those areas and to keep pets away from those parts.

Bob Mace is the Water, Sewer and Streets Bureau Chief for Arlington County.

"Right now the crew is here still removing roots from the sewer lines. It's roots that caused the blockage. That caused the sewage to spill out of this man hole cover here. The roots had infiltrated the pipe fairly extensively," Mace says.

Arlington County will issue a safety advisory until next weekend, giving time for the contamination to be flushed out of the stream. The advisory does not apply to the Potomac.

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