[Archived] City of Alexandria Reinstates Assistance Program for Sewer Backflow Prevention

City Press Release


	For Immediate Release	For More Information, Contact
	June 30, 2006 PIO# 168-06/jbh	Brian Hannigan, Director of Communications or Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300 Raynard Owens, Communications Officer, at 703.838.4300

CITY OF ALEXANDRIA REINSTATES ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR SEWER BACKFLOW PREVENTION

The City of Alexandria has reinstated its popular sewer Backflow Preventer (BFP) Assistance Program for homeowners in designated areas that historically experience basement back-ups or flooding. The Alexandria City Council requested the additional backflow preventer effort in the wake of this week’s torrential rainfall.

The program reimburses homeowners for up to 50 percent of the cost of installing a BFP device by a licensed plumbing contractor, up to a maximum of $500. The City’s designated Backflow Preventer Assistance Program Areas are located in the Commonwealth Avenue area and along Four Mile Run near Bruce Street. Additional locations may be approved by the Director of Transportation and Environmental Services upon application.

Alexandria’s BFP Assistance Program originally ran for one year beginning in April 2003. The current program went into effect immediately and will last for six months, until December 31, 2006.

Back-ups occur when excessive rainwater enters the sanitary sewer system and overwhelms the system’s capacity, causing sewer backflow into homes and businesses. A BFP protects against basement back-ups by temporarily closing the building’s connection to the street sewer system during sewage back-ups. BFP’s can function automatically or be operated manually by homeowners.

For more information and a BFP Assistance Program application, Alexandria homeowners should call the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services at 703-838-4324. Additional information is available on the City’s website at www.alexandriava.gov.

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