Natural Gas Safety - Leak Recognition and Response

 Gas leaks can be detected through sight, sound or smell. Leave immediately and call our crews for help. Your safety is our number one priority.

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/JsSi3hzfAGM 

Department of Public Utilities Recognized by National Association of Clean Water Agencies for Continued Operational Excellence

The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) presented the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities with a NACWA Peak Performance Award in 2020. This annual award is presented to honorees who have achieved excellence in operational performance and permit compliance.

Adam Krantz, chief executive officer of NACWA, congratulated this year’s honorees, noting:

“Our public utility members are the backbone of the communities they serve, providing safe, reliable access to clean water services day-in and day-out. The Peak Performance Award ceremony is our chance to shine a national spotlight on those outstanding clean water utilities that have demonstrated operational excellence with no more than five permit violations in a calendar year, and, for our Gold and Platinum Award winners, zero violations.

"These utilities represent the top performers in the whole country and go above and beyond in their mission to protect public health and the environment. This year has seen unprecedented challenges in the wake of the pandemic, and the Peak Performance Award winners have more than risen to the occasion.”

811 - Call Before You Dig!

 

The Gas Pipelines from the Meter to Your House Are Your Responsibility

As a safety measure, the Federal Office of Pipeline Safety (Federal Regulation 49 CFR 192.16) requires Richmond Gas Works as a natural gas operator to notify its customers of the need to maintain their underground or buried natural gas piping.

Any and all gas piping downstream (on the structure/house side) of the gas meter belongs to the customer, who is responsible for the maintenance and operation of this portion of the natural gas line.

Richmond Gas Works does not own this portion of the natural gas line; therefore, we do not routinely maintain or locate these private gas lines. Licensed commercial plumbers and heating contractors may be contacted for assistance in locating, inspecting, repairing, and maintaining these private gas lines. This underground gas piping should be:

• Periodically inspected for leaks

• Periodically inspected for corrosion if the piping is metallic

• Repaired if any unsafe condition is discovered, or the flow of gas should be shut off

Also, please remember that these privately-owned gas lines should be marked by your contractor or plumber before any digging or excavation is done in the area. If the work will be close to the underground gas line, we suggest that the digging is done carefully and by hand. If you have any questions or comments regarding this, please call (804) 646-4646.

Como una medida de seguridad, la Oficina Federal de Seguridad de Tubería (Reg. Fed 49 FCR 192.16) requiere Richmond Gas Works, como operador de gas, notifique a sus clientes la necesidad de examiner o dar mantenimiento a sus tuberías subterráneas o enterradas.

Todas las tuberías de gas que salen del contador (en el lado de la casa o estructura) son propiedad del cliente, quien es responsable del mantenimiento y operación de esta porción de la línea del gas natural.


Richmond Gas Works no es propietario de esta porción de la línea del gas natural; por lo tanto no hace ni mantenimiento periódico ni localización de estas líneas de gas privadas. Para ello pueden contactar plomeros comerciales con licencia y contratistas para calefacción que puedan hacer a localización, la inspección, la reparación o el mantenimiento de estas líneas de gas privadas. Las tuberías subterráneas deben ser rutinariamente:

• Inspeccionadas periódicamente por si hay salideros
• Inspeccionadas periódicamente por si hay corrosión cuando la tubería es metálica
• Reparadas si se descubre cualquier condición peligrosa, o el flujo de gas debe ser cortado.


También, por favor recuerde que estas líneas privadas de gas deben ser marcadas o señalizadas por su contratista o plomero antes de hacer cualquier excavación en el área. Si el trabajo se va a hacer cerca de las tuberías subterráneas, sugerimos que se haga la excavación a mano y con mucho cuidado. Si usted tiene preguntas o comentarios con realción a este AVISO, por favor llámenos al (804) 646-4646.

Natural Gas Safety Awareness Program - Damage Awareness and Prevention

Before you let a single shovel hit the dirt, if you’re doing any digging at all, watch this short video so you can keep yourself -- and everyone around you -- safe when you dig.

Natural Gas Safety Awareness Program

You can enjoy a warm home, a relaxing hot shower and a meal cooked perfectly with natural gas because we are working 24/7 to keep you safe by monitoring our pipelines every day and every night.

 

Natural Gas Safety Awareness Program

Richmond Gas Works pipelines reliably and efficiently deliver natural gas to our customers each day. Through our natural gas safety awareness program, we ensure our customers are safe and secure.

 

Everything You Need to Know About Natural Gas Safety

 

Safety Precautions You Need to Know

Water Heater Precautions

• Set your water heater to at least 120 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure that harmful bacteria will not form inside the water heater. 
• Be aware that water heater temperatures above 120 degrees Fahrenheit can cause scalding, especially to young children and the elderly. 

Carbon Monoxide Precautions 

• Carbon Monoxide (CO) comes from poorly functioning appliances, or appliances that are not vented or incorrectly vented. 
• You can’t see or smell CO. Only a CO detector can alert you to a problem. 
• Health officials recommend having CO detectors on every level of your home and within 10 feet of any sleeping areas. 
• CO poisoning symptoms can occur immediately or more gradually after long-term exposure. Symptoms are similar to the flu but do not include a fever. They include dizziness, shortness of breath, headaches, confusion, nausea, and fainting. 
• If you suspect CO poisoning, get fresh air immediately. Be sure to call for help before helping others. CO poisoning can lead to brain damage or even death. 

Flammable Materials 

• Keep combustible and flammable materials (such as gasoline cans, cleaning solvents, rags and cloths) at least 18 inches away from your gas appliances.

Precautions To Take Around Natural Gas Meters

Precautions Around Natural Gas Meters

• Do not scratch or damage the protective coating (paint) on the meter and piping. 
• Do not bury any portion of the meter or its shutoff valve under dirt or mulch. 
• The owner is responsible for the maintenance of any piping on the house side of the natural gas meter. 
• Do not hang things or anchor laundry lines or plant supports to the gas meter or piping. 
• Do not chain a pet, bicycle, gas grill or anything else to the gas meter or piping. 
• Maintain a safe clearance between your outdoor grill and the gas meter. 
• Maintain a two-foot clearance to allow access to the meter and meter shut-off valve. 
• Call Richmond Gas Works for help with meter protection if the meter is located in an area where a car could strike it.

Inclement Weather Precautions 

In the event of a flood: 

• Shut off the natural gas supply valve to the appliance. 
• If you are evacuating the premises, shut off your natural gas valve at the meter. Use a wrench to turn the valve a quarter turn so that it is crosswise (perpendicular) to the pipe. 
• If you turn off the gas at the meter, do not turn it back on yourself. Call Richmond Gas Works to restore the gas service.

In the event of snow and ice:

• Use a broom, not a shovel, to keep your gas meter and regulator free from snow and ice.
• For sidewall vented appliances such as direct vent furnaces, fireplaces or hot water heaters, do not allow the outside vent to be blocked by snow and ice. Blocked vents can cause carbon monoxide to back up into the building.

Focusing on sustainability, safety and security with new LED streetlights

In 2020, the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities was converting 7,500 streetlight fixtures to LED lighting, meeting sustainability, safety and security needs. Streetlights are an important factor in public safety and quality of life, providing lighting for both residential and commercial uses. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) will replace the present use of standard high pressure sodium vapor streetlights following a successful pilot project which tested the newer technology. LED lights are up to 80 percent more efficient than other lighting sources and use far less energy, thus reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

“I am proud that the streetlighting conversion project is moving forward. At a time when environmental impacts of our actions are felt more than ever, this project ties into the goals and road map laid out in my RVAgreen 2050 initiative,” said Mayor Levar Stoney.

Crews readying to convert fixture

When the city’s streetlights were first installed in 1845, they were powered by coal gas. Over the years, as the lighting source technology changed, the city has kept up with those changes in its streetlighting network. This LED conversion of the 7,500 fixtures is occurring through 2022. The majority of these replacements will take place along the roadways in the city’s Southside. 

The existing fixtures use standard High Pressure Sodium Vapor (HPSV) lamps with a warmer color temperature (yellow light). The new LED fixtures will have a cooler color temperature (moonlight color), which will enhance visibility and provide better color rendering. The LED fixtures will also provide better efficiency, reliability and maintainability. 

Old technology (l); new technology (r)

The projected useful life of LED lighting is 20 years per fixture, compared to an average of five years for the current lighting technology used in the city. Although the initial cost per fixture of the current lighting technology is $240 compared to $440 for the LED fixtures, the increase in useful life per fixture of the LED technology will result in a 54 percent cost savings for the city. The cost savings will be realized by a reduced replacement rate for the LED fixtures, an estimated 40 percent reduction in energy costs as well as reduced maintenance costs.

The city underwent a multi-faceted pilot project in 2018 testing and evaluating the technology on existing infrastructure to determine its feasibility and needed upgrades. The pilot focused on six areas and included the installation of three different style fixtures to assess the new lighting technology. Those six areas were Richmond Highway, Brook Road, Forest Hill Avenue, New Kent Avenue, Boston Avenue Alley and Wentbridge Road Alley. The pilot project resulted in a design reference with specifications on acceptable lighting source parameters and range of lumens output acceptable for both roadways and alleys as well as proper electrical characteristics for the distribution grid.

What You Need to Know About the Natural Gas Pipelines Buried in Your Yard

As a safety measure, the Federal Office of Pipeline Safety (Federal Regulation 49 CFR 192.16) requires Richmond Gas Works, as a natural gas operator, to notify its customers of the need to maintain their underground or buried natural gas piping.

Any and all gas piping downstream (on the structure/house side) of the gas meter belongs to the customer, who is responsible for the maintenance and operation of this portion of the natural gas line.

Richmond Gas Works does not own this portion of the natural gas line; therefore, we do not routinely maintain or locate these private gas lines. Licensed commercial plumbers and heating contractors may be contacted for assistance in locating, inspecting, repairing, and maintaining these private gas lines.

Underground gas piping should be: 

• Periodically inspected for leaks  
• Periodically inspected for corrosion if the piping is metallic
• Repaired if any unsafe condition is discovered, or the flow of gas should be shut off 

Also, remember that these privately-owned gas lines should be marked by your contractor or plumber before any digging or excavation is done in the area. Call 811. If the work will be close to the underground gas line, we suggest that the digging is done carefully and by hand.

Where Are Natural Gas Pipelines Located?

Natural gas is drawn from deep inside the earth and fed into pipelines that eventually feed into large transmission pipelines that crisscross the nation.

Once the gas arrives in Virginia, Richmond Gas Works distributes it through underground pipelines safely and reliably to its customers. Since these pipelines are underground, line markers are sometimes used when possible to approximate their location along a route.

These markers display the material transported (yellow means natural gas), the name of the pipeline owner, and telephone number of the owner in the event of an emergency or damaged pipeline. These markers only indicate the general location of the pipeline and cannot be relied upon to indicate the exact location of the pipeline.

Because many of these distribution lines are not marked, it is critical that people call 811 prior to ANY excavation. When excavation work is planned, the gas pipelines are identified with yellow paint markings or flags.

Natural Gas Damage Prevention Awareness - Call 811 Before You Dig

The greatest risk to underground pipelines is accidental damage during excavations. To protect our natural gas pipelines and other underground facilities, it is critical that people call 811 prior to ANY excavation related activities on public and private property. The law requires that ALL excavators notify the local one-call Miss Utility system by dialing 811 or 800-552-7001 before digging.

The one-call center will contact the owners of the underground facilities and pipelines in the immediate area of digging so that they can mark the location of their facilities prior to excavation.

Excavators are required to allow time for utilities to mark their facilities and are required to take certain precautions when working in the immediate area of underground facilities.

The use of mechanized equipment is prohibited within two feet of either side of any utility.

The one-call center can provide the specific details of what is required. Failure to comply with this law can jeopardize public safety, and can result in costly damages and substantial fines. Even if you cause what seems to be minor damage to a pipeline or gas facility (e.g., gas meters), notify the City of Richmond DPU immediately at 804-646-4646. A gouge, scrape, dent, or crease to the pipe or its coating may cause a future leak or failure. It is imperative that the pipeline owners inspect and repair any damage.

Natural Gas Leak Recognition and Response -- Top Things You Need to Know

A natural gas leak is usually recognized by smell, sight, or sound. 

• Smell - Natural gas is colorless and odorless. Before it reaches you, we add a distinctive, pungent odor (rotten eggs smell) so you will recognize it quickly. 
• Sight - You may see a white cloud, mist, fog, 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. MOVE to a safe environment. 
• Call 911 or City of Richmond DPU at 804-646-4646. 
• DO NOT strike a match, use cell phones, switch on or off appliances, lights or even a flashlight in the area where you smell gas. These items can produce sparks that might ignite and cause an explosion.
  

For emergency personnel

• Emergency response officials should secure the area and take steps to eliminate ignition sources. 
• Evacuate the general public from the vicinity of the leak 
• Contact City of Richmond DPU at 804-646-4646 

For excavators 

• Immediately stop work and evacuate the site to a safe distance
• Immediately eliminate all sources of ignition (e.g., truck and car motors, backhoes, etc.)
• Call City of Richmond DPU at 804-646-4646
• Alert everyone on the premises
• Keep the public and traffic away 
• DO NOT try to fix the pipe or slow the rate of leaking gas
• DO NOT try to extinguish a gas burning fire unless there is a threat to life
• If you SUSPECT or become aware of a dent, scratch, or coating damage to the pipeline, notify Richmond DPU at 804-646-4646 immediately.

Natural Gas 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 gas leak caused by damage to a pipeline may pose a hazard and has the potential to ignite. We work diligently to ensure pipeline safety through a variety of measures including:

• One-call Miss Utility and Dig Safe programs (811)
• Inspection programs 
• Best design and construction practices 
• Workforce qualification and testing
• Public education
• Industry safety practices and government oversight 
• Pipeline markers and facility mapping 
• Gas leak surveys 
• Patrol of critical gas facilities 
• Gas pressure monitoring 
• Gas odorization 
• Working with city, county and municipal agencies 
• Security measures

Natural Gas Pipeline Purpose and Reliability

Richmond Gas Works operates almost 2,000 miles of natural gas pipelines for residential, commercial and industrial use in Richmond, Henrico County and portions of Chesterfield and Hanover counties. It is likely that everyone lives or works near a natural gas pipeline.

These pipelines quietly, reliably and efficiently deliver natural gas throughout the service territory. Natural gas energy is the most popular home heating fuel in America and its pipeline system is among the safest and most secure methods of transporting energy.

The natural gas industry works very closely with government and stays abreast of new security methods and technologies to ensure the highest levels of security. Individual gas utilities also evaluate their security procedures on a regular basis and continually enhance security programs as necessary and appropriate to meet their needs.

Water Treatment Plant Wins Award

The Water Treatment Plant (WTP) was recognized by the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), of Virginia on Feb. 6, 2020 for their Sedimentation Basins Improvements Project. The ACEC presented engineering excellence awards for projects demonstrating exceptional innovation, complexity, achievement and value.

The WTP’s project improved operations, equipment reliability and decreased maintenance costs by upgrading the replacement of the flocculator, mixer motors and motor control centers. As part of the new equipment installation, structural repairs were made to basin walls and basin floors were modified. Four basins, including the existing TracVac system with the hose-less collection system, were replaced. Started in the fall of 2014, the project resulted in a higher rate of clarification for filtration and water treatment.