Thursday, November 14, 2019
Thursday, October 10, 2019
City of Richmond and Regional Partners Monitoring River Levels
The City of Richmond is closely monitoring the river levels, along with our regional partners Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, and Powhatan counties, as part of the James River Regional Flow Management Plan. The dry weather and lack of significant rainfall in western Virginia in the fall of 2019 could have lead to a call for voluntary water conservation in the metro Richmond area.
The Richmond region is supplied with water by the James River basin, the largest watershed in the state. Water levels locally are affected when there are dry conditions and lack of rainfall within the drainage basin is issued asking all residents in the City of Richmond and surrounding counties to voluntarily reduce water usage.
Water conservation, though, should be an everyday practice for all residents and businesses. Conserving water is an important tool in reducing water demand. Water conservation tips can be found here http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/office-of-drinking-water/water-conservation-tips/.
The Richmond region is supplied with water by the James River basin, the largest watershed in the state. Water levels locally are affected when there are dry conditions and lack of rainfall within the drainage basin is issued asking all residents in the City of Richmond and surrounding counties to voluntarily reduce water usage.
Water conservation, though, should be an everyday practice for all residents and businesses. Conserving water is an important tool in reducing water demand. Water conservation tips can be found here http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/office-of-drinking-water/water-conservation-tips/.
Wednesday, October 9, 2019
Citizens Academy 2019 -- Second Week at the Wastewater Treatment Plant
To view as a slideshow, click on the first photo.
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| After hearing about stormwater management and the flood wall, we're ready to tour! |
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| First stop is where all the garbage that is not sewerage is pulled out of the water... |
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| ....by several of these big combing machines |
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| Just a sample of all the things in wastewater that are not biodegradable |
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| We have to take several large containers of this to the landfill daily; and even throughout the night when it rains. Who flushed a Big Gulp cup? And also, flushable wipes do not flush. Put them in the trash can, not the toilet. |
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| Outside the filtration building |
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| Now the combed out water is ready to treat |
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| Geese like to hang out at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, but this group is heading to Florida |
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| We thought these were bats eating bugs and mosquitoes, but a Twitter follower said they're probably chimney swift birds. |
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| Separating this stuff from the water |
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| Night falls at the Wastewater Plant and class is dismissed! |
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Citizens Academy 2019 - First Week at the Operations Center
Click on first photo to view as slide show
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| DPU Director Calvin Farr welcomed the 2019 class |
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| 2019 Citizens Academy class |
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| Deputy Director Wayne Lassiter gave the financial overview |
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| Program and Operations Manager Larry Grant explained customer service |
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| Utilities Field Supervisor Rodney Munford explains meter reading process |
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| Program and Operations Manager Mickel Johnson explains streetlight history and operations |
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| Warehouse and Materials Supervisor Jeff Carter |
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| Streetlight display |
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| Answering questions after the presentation |
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| Tour of the SCADA room to learn how natural gas flow around the region is monitored |
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| Meter reading questions were popular! |
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| Filling out satisfaction surveys after the session |
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| Boxed dinners! |
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| More meter questions! |
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| The Operations Center Atrium |
Tuesday, August 20, 2019
Natural Gas Safety You Need to Know
Hazard Awareness and Prevention
The U.S. natural gas transmission and distribution system has the best safety record of any type of transportation system in the country. Natural gas is clean, convenient, and efficient, which makes it the popular energy choice.
Like all forms of energy, however, it must be handled properly. Despite an excellent safety record, a natural gas leak caused by damage to a pipeline may pose a hazard and has the potential to ignite. Richmond Gas Works works diligently to ensure pipeline safety through a variety of measures, including the one-call Miss Utility and Dig Safe programs, inspections, design and construction practices, workforce qualifications, public education, industry safety practices and government oversight, pipeline markers and facility mapping, natural gas leak surveys, and patrols of critical natural gas facilities.
Leak Response
A natural gas leak is usually recognized by the smell, sight, or sound.
Smell: Natural gas is colorless and odorless. Before it reaches you, a distinctive, pungent odor -- a rotten eggs smell -- is added so that you will recognize it quickly.
Sight: You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, or bubbles in standing water, or vegetation that appears to be dead or dying for no apparent reason.
Sound: You may hear an unusual noise like roaring, hissing or whistling.
What should you do if you suspect a leak? Protect life first. Go to a location where the smell is no longer present and call 911 or the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities at 646-4646.
Do not strike a match, use telephones, switch on or off appliances, lights or even a flashlight in the area where you smell natural gas. In very specific circumstances, those actions could produce sparks that might ignite and cause an explosion.
How to Get Additional Information
City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities -- 804-646-4646.
Web -- www.richmondgov.com/PublicUtilities/NaturalGasSafety.aspx
Call Before You Dig (Virginia) -- 811 or 800-552-7001
Web -- www.va811.com Office of Pipeline Safety -- www.ops.dot.gov
The U.S. natural gas transmission and distribution system has the best safety record of any type of transportation system in the country. Natural gas is clean, convenient, and efficient, which makes it the popular energy choice.
Like all forms of energy, however, it must be handled properly. Despite an excellent safety record, a natural gas leak caused by damage to a pipeline may pose a hazard and has the potential to ignite. Richmond Gas Works works diligently to ensure pipeline safety through a variety of measures, including the one-call Miss Utility and Dig Safe programs, inspections, design and construction practices, workforce qualifications, public education, industry safety practices and government oversight, pipeline markers and facility mapping, natural gas leak surveys, and patrols of critical natural gas facilities.
Leak Response
A natural gas leak is usually recognized by the smell, sight, or sound.
Smell: Natural gas is colorless and odorless. Before it reaches you, a distinctive, pungent odor -- a rotten eggs smell -- is added so that you will recognize it quickly.
Sight: You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, or bubbles in standing water, or vegetation that appears to be dead or dying for no apparent reason.
Sound: You may hear an unusual noise like roaring, hissing or whistling.
What should you do if you suspect a leak? Protect life first. Go to a location where the smell is no longer present and call 911 or the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities at 646-4646.
Do not strike a match, use telephones, switch on or off appliances, lights or even a flashlight in the area where you smell natural gas. In very specific circumstances, those actions could produce sparks that might ignite and cause an explosion.
How to Get Additional Information
City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities -- 804-646-4646.
Web -- www.richmondgov.com/PublicUtilities/NaturalGasSafety.aspx
Call Before You Dig (Virginia) -- 811 or 800-552-7001
Web -- www.va811.com Office of Pipeline Safety -- www.ops.dot.gov
Friday, March 22, 2019
Fix a Leak 2019
During Fix a Leak Week 2019, our Running Toilet ran around town and was finally stopped on Friday by a customer who recognized it. To fix your running toilets, put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank, wait 10 minutes, and if the water in your toilet bowl changes color, it's time to replace the flapper in the tank. There are many helpful videos on YouTube that will show you how to do that yourself, and a tank kit is inexpensive at any home improvement store.
Also, check your faucets for any drips and replace the washers. Don't forget the faucets outside the house!
Also, check your faucets for any drips and replace the washers. Don't forget the faucets outside the house!
Thursday, March 14, 2019
What You Need to Know About Cross Bores
First, know what a cross bore is. It is where underground utility lines cross over each other.
The reason you need to know this is sometimes in rare cases a natural gas pipeline might actually be run through a sewer pipe, and if a plumber unknowingly strikes a gas line while cutting through a sewer pipe for a repair, natural gas could enter the sewer system creating a very dangerous situation!
For this reason, it's very important that everyone digging call 811 to have all utility lines clearly marked.
Always assume there is a possibility of crossed lines. If a natural gas pipeline is hit:
The reason you need to know this is sometimes in rare cases a natural gas pipeline might actually be run through a sewer pipe, and if a plumber unknowingly strikes a gas line while cutting through a sewer pipe for a repair, natural gas could enter the sewer system creating a very dangerous situation!
For this reason, it's very important that everyone digging call 811 to have all utility lines clearly marked.
Always assume there is a possibility of crossed lines. If a natural gas pipeline is hit:
- Leave the premises immediately
- Instruct others to leave right away and stay away
- Call 911
DO NOT
- Operate any electrical appliances in the area
- Operate any pipeline system equipment
- Turn on vehicles, appliances or lights
- Use anything that might create a spark, including a cell phone
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