Residents Urged to Clear Snow and Debris

Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov

Feb. 20, 2007

Residents Urged to Clear Snow and Debris

Residents and businesses can help alleviate potential flooding this winter season by keeping the openings of storm drains clear of snow and debris.

Simple steps include:

Remove snow and debris – leaves, grass clippings and trash – from the outside openings of storm drains. If there are grate inlets in your yard, remove snow from the top so the water can drain into the inlet.
Avoid piling snow in front of a storm drain; if snow is blocking a drain near your house, open a path for the water.
Do not attempt to enter a storm drain to remove debris.

If the blockage is too great to be cleared sufficiently to provide a path for the water, residents can call Fairfax County Stormwater Management, 703-934-2800, TTY 711, or the Virginia Department of Transportation, 703-383-8368, TTY 711, to report a blocked storm drain.

Property owners are responsible for driveway culverts and bridges that are part of the driveway structure and are not public storm drainage system structures. Storm drains outside rights-of-way and easements are privately maintained by the property owner.

For more information about storm drainage and stormwater facilities, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/navbar/faqs/stormdrainage.htm. For more information about protecting and restoring streams, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes/stormwater/.

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For more news and information, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/news.