Citizens Academy Highlights 2018

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Our Neigbors Visit the Water Plant

On Imagine a Day Without Water day, Oct. 10, 2018, we invited our neighbors who live around the Water Plant to come in for a tour. We had nearly 40 people register and 32 show up. Here's what we saw!

To view photos as a slide show, click on the first one.

Make Your Fall Leaves Work for You!

There are things you can do with leaves other than rake them and bag them.

Use them in compost.

Leaf mold is what’s left when you let leaves decompose naturally. It makes the forest smell…like a

forest. Leaf mold improves the soil and its water-holding ability and attracts beneficial organisms like earthworms.

Leaves make excellent mulch, suppress weeds, and feed the soil, but shred them first, as just a thick layer of wet leaves will form a solid mat and block water and air from getting to the soil. But when you shred them, they settle into the ground easier. When you first put down a layer of shredded leaves, hose them down thoroughly so they won’t blow away.

Stack leaves around plants and small trees for insulation.

Mow the leaves with your lawn mower and leave them on the lawn to feed the grass. The new wisdom about leaves is that this is the best and wisest thing to do.

If you’re going to rake, invest in a quality, ergonomic rake. Move your legs as well as your arms to reduce back pain. Rake in small sections. Listen to music. Rake downwind. Rake in groups with your whole family so it takes less time.

Only use leaf blowers to dislodge leaves from hard to reach areas, like behind bushes and under decks.

Wait until the trees are nearly bare before you start raking.

Use two garbage pail lids to pick up leaves and bag them.

Minimize how far you move the leaves. Maintain leaf piles in different parts of the yard so you’re not dragging tarps of them any long distances.

Wear gloves when raking to prevent blisters.

Protecting Your Property in a Storm

It’s important that you take steps to prepare your property, locate any insurance documents, and keep receipts for any temporary repairs made. These tips come to us from the Independent Insurance Agents Association.

Before the hurricane:

1. Locate your insurance policies – name and number of an insurance agent and get their cell phone numbers.
2. If you are asked to evacuate, stay calm and move out quickly.
3. Protect your property by boarding up windows and storing outdoor furniture. Recheck manufactured home tie-downs.
4. Be sure to have on hand a supply of non-perishable food, water, and medication. Keep a full tank of gas in your car.
5. Make sure your first aid kit is updated and fully supplied.
6. Have flashlights (with extra batteries) or candles ready, plus a battery-operated radio for latest storm information. Don’t forget to keep an extra battery for your cell phone.
7. If your property is damaged, make temporary repairs, save receipts and contact your insurance agent immediately.
8. In the event that telephone service is disrupted, stay tuned to radio and television for further instructions.

After the hurricane:

1. If there’s damage, contact your insurance agent as soon as possible.
2. Make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.
3. Prepare an inventory of all damaged or destroyed personal property.
4. Take photos of damaged areas.
5. Save remnants of damaged or destroyed property for your insurance company adjuster.
6. Meet with your insurance company adjuster first before signing anything with a public adjuster.
7. Look out for scams. People that show up to repair your property or move trees with an offer that’s too good to be true likely are trying to take advantage of you.

DPU Fleet Vehicles Change Over to Richmond Gas Works

The decals identifying vehicles in the Customer Service, Gas Distribution, Energy Services, and Tech Services fleets were rebranded as Richmond Gas Works in August 2018.

There are approximately 160 vehicles of 37 different makes and models and a team from each division worked, along with the decal vendor, to complete an average of 60 vehicles each week.

Planning, coordinating and scheduling the vehicles, along with the staff to transfer them was a complex job. Designing the decals for such a varied fleet was complex with so much variation between makes, models and years of vehicles.

“That was a challenge to take all the differences into consideration when designing so we could produce the minimum number of decal style variations that would work,” said Janie Kaplan, marketing manager for Energy Services.

“We wanted a modern look that doesn’t feel stodgy but also wanted to signal the strength and stability that comes from our rich heritage. The vehicles are day-to-day moving billboards out in the community. It’s a clean, modern, agile, accessible look and each decal includes the customer service phone number and website to reinforce our accessibility and ease of use.”

More Storm Drain Art Arrives in Carytown

More storm drain art is coming to Richmond’s streets to remind everyone that they are the pollution solution. The first drain was painted as a live demonstration during the Festival of the River on June 9 at 7th and Tredegar Streets near West Rock. Four additional drains will be painted in Carytown on June 16 and 17.

Through the RVAH2O Storm Drain Art Project (http://www.rvah2o.org/storm-drain-art/), an initiative of the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU), five local Richmond artists have been selected to paint their message on storm drains to educate the public about the importance of keeping our river, waterways and streets pollution-free. These winning artists were among 29 entries in RVAH2O’s online contest. They will paint five storm drains in Tredegar and Carytown.

RVAH2O’s online contest invited local artists ages 18+ to submit design entries depicting “You Are the Pollution Solution," environmental protection of waterways, and the James River’s ecosystem, natural habitats and wildlife.

The panel of judges included members of the Richmond Public Art Commission and members of the DPU stormwater team. The five winning artists are:

• Jered Fykes
• Hope Morgan
• Elise Neuscheler
• Melissa Rosener
• Amy Smith

“The Storm Drain Art Project drew a strong caliber of local artists who have taken a clever approach to illustrating the benefits of a pollution-free James River,” said Calvin Farr, DPU director. “We are excited to be a part of the Festival of the River with the live painting demonstration and returning to where it all began. We’re equally excited to be extending storm drain art to Carytown, a very popular and walkable destination to eat, shop, and play.”

Each artist will be assigned a storm drain to paint over two weekends: June 9 and June 16-17. Artists will be compensated with a $400 stipend for their work and materials, such as tools and brushes. They also will receive instruction on how to paint storm drains, which will include precautions to prevent paint from getting into the drain.

DPU will provide each artist with non-slip paint, basic brushes and water tubs. DPU also will closely monitor the drain painting and will provide standard construction inlet protection (gutter buddies) for each drain, as well as small tents that the artists can use for shade and protection during the process.

This is the third consecutive year of the RVAH2O Storm Drain Art Project, initiated in 2016 using the online contest and entry portal. In May 2016, six artists were selected to paint storm drains along Tredegar Street, adjacent to the James River. They remain today a visual reminder of the importance of the James River in our lives, as well as the lives of plants, animals and fish that rely on the river and its natural habitats for survival.  In May 2017, four artists were selected to paint storm drains along Grace and Harrison Streets at VCU.



About RVAH2O

RVAH2O (http://www.rvah2o.org/) is driven by the belief that every citizen of our city can make a difference and help us achieve the goal of cleaner water faster for all of Richmond. We’ve developed an innovative partnership between city government and passionate citizens, and we’re making progress every day to:

• Reduce pollution
• Decrease flooding 
• Keep our waters fishable and swimmable

Richmond's Award-Winning Water Highlighted During National Drinking Water Week

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) celebrated National Drinking Water

Week, May 6–12, 2018. “Protect the Source” was the theme for this year’s campaign and provides the opportunity for partners of the American Water Works Association to highlight the vital role water plays in our daily lives and the quality of life we enjoy.

During National Drinking Water Week, representatives from DPU served Richmond’s award-winning water at various water fill stations in the city.

The City of Richmond is one of Virginia’s largest potable water producers, with a Water Plant that has the capacity to treat up to 132 million gallons of water a day from the James River.

The treatment plant and distribution system of water mains, pumping stations and storage facilities provide water to more than 62,000 customers in the city. The facility also provides water to the surrounding area through wholesale contracts with Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover counties and indirectly to Powhatan and Goochland counties. The utility also maintains 1,200 miles of water mains, city fire hydrants for fire protection and 13 pumping stations throughout the city.