ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The City of Alexandria is warning residents to avoid water that may have been contaminated by a sanitary sewer overflow Friday afternoon.
The overflow happened in the area of Valley Drive and W. Braddock Road, at the Timber Branch stream.
The overflow did not affect household water supplies or drinking water. However, people and pets are advised to avoid coming into contact with the water in Timber Branch from Valley Drive/West Braddock Road downstream to Hooffs Run in the African American Heritage Park for the next 48-72 hours.
City staff were notified about the overflow and crews arrived to figure out what caused it to happen. A blockage in the sewer pipe was cleared around 12:45 p.m. stopping the overflow.
Signs have been posted in areas where the public has access to the stream to direct them to avoid contact with the water until further notice.
WUSA9 spoke to several neighbors of Timber Branch Creek. Many were surprised by just how pungent the smell was.
"Well it's unpleasant," said Ashley Labadie. Her son Jack, agreed. "it is very smelly".
"It's pretty stinky," said another neighbor.
"It's definitely sewage," said Leslie Schweitzer.
Some are worried about the long-term impacts this will have on the area.
"It's gonna cause a lot of damage because we have native plants here, the wildlife that we have here, the birds drink from there, all the animals do," said Gabriella.
Schweitzer told WUSA9 her dog often plays in part of the creek. Not anymore.
"I won't go in it, probably ever again," she said.
If you see or smell anything out of the ordinary, city officials ask you to reach out through Alex311.
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