News Around the Hill

03/09/2021

The March issue of News aRound the Hill was mailed to Round Hill utility customers with their bills last week.

03/08/2021

Town of Round Hill

PUBLIC NOTICE UPDATE - Planned Water Service Interruption Rescheduled for Thurs March 11, 2021 (8 AM to 5 PM) for Lake Point, Newberry Crossing and Falls Place

Rescheduled from the original target date of March 10, 2021

Water Outage will NOT occur on March 10, 2021

Please be prepared for Water Outage on Thurs March 11, 2021

DETAILS: To affect approximately 382 households in Lake Point, Newberry Crossing and Falls Place (Back-Up Date is Monday, March 15, 2021)

The Town of Round Hill Utility Department’s planned water service interruption that was previously scheduled for Wednesday, March 10 has been rescheduled for Thursday, March 11. during the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. This planned water outage was requested by the Project Contractor as they continue to install new storm water structures under Loudoun Street for the Franklin Park Trail. During these water outage periods the main water valves will be shut off to allow for careful excavation and installation work around a critical 12” main water line under Loudoun Street. The Project Contractor has identified Monday, March 15 as the back update if the work cannot be performed on Thursday, March 11.

After the water outage event is completed on March 11, the construction project will be heading west towards Main Street, where there will be two additional water outage events scheduled (as the contractor gets closer to the target locations the date will be announced). However, the next two water outage events will not impact Lake Point, Falls Place or Newberry Crossing.

This public notice is directed to the above referenced customers with the following suggestions to help minimize the impact during the interruption to service:

· Consider taking showers and baths the night before or early in the morning before 8:00 AM.

· Consider washing clothes and dirty dishes the night before the water outage.

· Consider using disposable plates, cups, and silverware to reduce the number of dirty dishes.

· Consider pulling extra water to flush toilets during the outage. A bucket or large pan of water poured into the toilet will flush it in the event of an emergency or outage. Fill the bathtub before the outage (for flushing and other non-potable purposes). Please be careful if you have young children around a full bathtub.

The Town will also provide a flat of bottled water to help the above referenced customers during this water outage. The Town will be distributing water from a Town Utility Truck at the entrance to the Lake Point Neighborhood on Marbury Street.

The Town has requested that the Project Contractor ensure that these service interruptions will be “controlled water outages” and that water service should be reestablished each day by 5:00 PM (in time for dinner).

Unlike with previous water outages after flushing lines, emergency repairs or valve installations, this water outage will not cause extra debris in the lines (brown water). However, if you experience any water clarity problems, please do not hesitate to flush your water faucets, or run your tub. Keep in mind it will naturally clear up and it does not pose a health issue. The Town will provide you with information on how to properly run faucets after a water outage on Facebook and the Town Website.

Both the Loudoun County Fire and Rescue and the Round Hill Fire Department have been notified and will add a tanker task force during any period where hydrants are out of service.

There will also be a lane closure on East Loudoun Street while crews are working, and motorists are urged to use caution while travelling through the area.

The Town will provide updates on the Town website and page, and through Alert Loudoun. Residents can also call 540-338-7878 or email [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the service interruption

03/01/2021

Town of Round Hill

UPDATE (March 11): Work on the new stormwater structures scheduled for Thursday, March 11, 2021 has been completed and water service was restored to customers in the Lake Point, Newberry Crossing, and Falls Place communities at 1:00PM today.

Unlike with previous water outages after flushing lines, emergency repairs or valve installations, this water outage should not cause extra debris in the lines (brown water). However, if you experience any water clarity problems, please do not hesitate to flush your water faucets, or run your tub. Keep in mind it will naturally clear up and it does not pose a health issue.

Now that work on this section of the project has been completed, the construction project will be heading west towards Main Street, where there will be two additional water outage events scheduled (as the contractor gets closer to the target locations the date will be announced). However, the next two water outage events will not impact Lake Point, Falls Place, or Newberry Crossing.

02/28/2021

Town of Round Hill

PUBLIC REMINDER TO SIGN UP FOR ALERT LOUDOUN:

As the Town of Round Hill and Loudoun County continue to work on the Franklin Park Trail (along Loudoun Street) and then the Main Street Enhancement Project (Exxon to the Old Train Station), there is a need to communicate with the public if there is a water shut down event or road shut down event (planned or unplanned) due to the construction work.

Town Staff encourages all residents to sign up for "Alert Loudoun" as a communication tool to find out about any emergency in Round Hill or in the greater Loudoun County Region. Keep in mind Town Staff will continue to use Facebook, the Town Website and directed emails to local HOA Managers as the other communication tools for emergencies.

Alert Loudoun is the notification system Loudoun County uses to send citizens emergency information, news releases, traffic information, weather alerts, and more.

The system will send you information you need wherever you are. For example, subscribers may register to receive weather alerts that affect not only their home address, but also their work location, their children’s day care provider, their children’s school, or their parents’ home.

Alert Loudoun also gives subscribers the ability to customize how they receive information - by text, email, and / or mobile app. The new system will first send a message to what you designate as your primary means of notification. If it doesn’t reach you that way, it will try another method.

For more information on how to sign up visit:

https://www.loudoun.gov/alert

02/27/2021

Appalachian Trail Art Show

Just 2 more weeks to enter our show celebrating works inspired by the Appalachian Trail and the great outdoors. Drop off is March 12-14 at the Round Hill Arts Center.
**ONLINE SHOW** We are already working on the online version of the show, so please email us a photo of your work at any time (PM for email instructions). We can't wait to see your creations! This is one we received this week, "Behind the Currents" by Judith Arnold.

01/30/2021

Town of Round Hill

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Please do not pour leftover fats, oils and grease down the drain. Utility Staff have noticed an increase in oil and grease build up in the RH Lift Stations.

WHAT IS A LIFT STATION?

When gravity sewer is not an option - a lift station is an integral part of a sewage collection system. In order for the raw sewage to reach the RH Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), it needs to be efficiently transported to a higher elevation. This can’t happen naturally for obvious reasons – it would defy the laws of gravity and physics. Fortunately, we have wastewater lift stations to help.

Eventually, the raw sewage reaches a storage container referred to as a wet well (see attached photos), which is essentially a holding cell that empties out once it reaches a predetermined level. While in the wet well. Once the wet well is full, a lift station pump will “lift” the sewage upwards using a pressurized sewer force main. Its purpose is to elevate the wastewater to a higher elevation so that it can continue its journey towards the WWTP.

HOW CAN FATS/OILS/GREASE DAMAGE A LIFT STATION?

Fats, Oils & Greases in lift stations create a major problem. The grease obstructs floats and reduces the life of pumps leading to a need for frequent service/replacement. Obstruction by grease is the most prevalent cause of force main backups and sewage overflows. The majority of sewer line blockages are caused by grease build-up as opposed to other debris.

Grease that is poured down the drain accumulates in private plumbing and within sewer lines and may eventually form a complete blockage. When this occurs, wastewater can overflow from manholes onto streets and yards. When the flow of wastewater is interrupted due to a blockage, sewage can back up into homes, causing messy water damage and expensive cleanup.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

You can help prevent the buildup of grease in sewer lines and within the plumbing of your own home. Dispose of all cooking grease in the trash instead of pouring it down the drain. Please follow this 3-step method:

POUR IT : Pour all grease into an empty can (let grease cool; hot grease can cause a serious burn).
COOL IT : Store the covered can in your refrigerator or freezer.
TRASH IT : Throw away the can when full of grease into the trash.

01/26/2021

Town of Round Hill

A Message from the Round Hill United Methodist Church Food Pantry:

There is a trailer in the corner of the gravel parking lot behind the Round Hill United Methodist Church in Round Hill. The trailer houses our Food Pantry, which has been serving Round Hill/Western Loudoun neighbors for 10 years. The Pantry is 100% volunteer operated and 100% of donations go directly to purchase food and supplies. The ministry provides free, healthy foods, including fresh local produce in season, and eggs from our “church chickens.” As many as thirty-one families (over 100 individuals) visit the Pantry each month. This year, the Round Hill UMC Food Pantry distributed over 15,000 pounds of food through the end of November.

We understand that it is very difficult and humbling to ask for help. Many people suffer silently when divorce, job loss, unexpected financial or health emergencies occur. But you’re not alone. Whether someone needs help for a week or a month or even longer, the Round Hill UMC Food Pantry is there to lend a helping hand. All people seeking food assistance are treated with respect and confidentially. We only ask your name, your situation, how to contact you, and how we can help.

The Pantry is open on the third weekend of each month, Saturday - Monday. There is also a Blessings Box located in front of the Pantry. It is stocked with an emergency supply of food for times when the Pantry is closed.

What’s needed most:
• Canned fruit
• Breakfast cereal
• Canned tuna, salmon, chicken
• Rice
• Cooking oil
• Pasta sauce (please, no glass jars)
• Canned diced tomatoes and tomato sauce
• Nut butters and jelly
• Taco kits
• Canned soups, stew and chili

Whether you are called to donate or seek help, just ask. Here’s how to contact the pantry:

Email: [email protected] (checked daily)
Church Office: 540.338.4445
Physical Address: 11 West Loudoun Street, Round Hill, VA 20141
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 51, Round Hill, VA 20142
Online Donations: roundhillumc.org select “online giving”
Physical Donations: Drop Box on Pantry Porch (checked daily)
** Ship online orders to physical address

01/12/2021

Town of Round Hill

Town of Round Hill

UPDATE ON WATER OUTAGE:

Yesterday (1-11-21) there was a planned water outage during the installation of a new water main valve. This outage was planned for only 30 homes. However, during construction Town Utility Staff had to shut off additional valves to allow for a successful installation of the new water main valve. This resulted in roughly 400 homes losing access to water for about 6 hours. Please note that the water was not shut off completely, the water pressure was only lowered to allow for the required work. As a result of the low water pressure, water could not reach residents in Lake Point and Newberry Crossing. The Town has received questions about the need for a 'Boil Water Notice.' Please be advised that this notice was not necessary because the Utility Staff followed all appropriate disinfection protocols during the installation and no foreign containments were introduced into the system. Full Water Service resumed by 7 pm last night (1-12-2020). If you have any additional questions, please call 540-338-4772

Please follow this post for any additional updates.

01/11/2021

Town of Round Hill

PUBLIC NOTICE: If you live in one of the neighborhoods impacted by the emergency water shut off, the Town has set up a Water Bottle Distribution Truck. The site is near the intersection of Marbury and Tedler in the front of the Lake Point Subdivision. Staff will be handing out bottles of water to residents.

If you need more information, please call 540-338-4772 or 540-338-7878

01/11/2021

Town of Round Hill

PUBLIC NOTICE OF WATER OUTAGE IN LAKE POINT:

During the planned installation of critical new water main valves today, the Town has experienced a failure of adjacent older water main valves.

As a result of this failure Lake Point Neighborhood, as well as Newberry Crossing and Bristol Terrace, will be without water service today as the Town completes the installation of the new water main valves, and the repair of the older water main valves.

Crews will work as quickly possible to complete the work and restore service to customers. The Town will provide updates as work progresses on its website and page, can also call 540-338-7878 or 540-454-3636 if you have any questions regarding the service interruption.

Please note that we will provide updates on the timeline as soon as we find out. We are estimating the water will be off for about 6 hours. Staff is handing out water bottles at the intersection of Marbury and Tedler.

01/08/2021

Town of Round Hill

Town of Round Hill

PUBLIC NOTICE: Planned Water Service Interruption Scheduled for Monday, January 11, 2021. To affect approximately 30 households on Falls Place and Brookville Court.

The Town of Round Hill Utility Department has a planned service interruption scheduled for Monday, January 11, 2021 which will affect approximately 30 households on Falls Place and Brookville Court, as well as two addresses on Loudoun Street. This outage is scheduled to begin at 8:00AM and is expected to last for eight hours. During this time, residents in the affected area will be without water service.

This service interruption is related to deficiencies identified during the test pitting for the County’s Franklin Park/Main Street Enhancement Project currently under construction. During this inspection and verification process, the Town and County identified that there were critical water main valves missing that had been shown on the original development plans and several older valves in the Town’s utility system that would not completely close. This would create a scenario where future breaks or the need to isolate sections of the system would result in extended outages in surrounding neighborhoods. The Town and County are working together to proactively address this issue so that work can be completed on the Trail project and also address the existing system deficiency which will pay enormous positive dividends down the road in the area of reduced service interruptions.

Notices have been delivered and mailed to affected customers with suggestions to help minimize the impact during the interruption to service, including:

• Taking showers and baths the night before or early in the morning before 8:00AM.
• Washing clothes and dirty dishes the night before or using disposable plates, cups, and silverware to reduce the number of dirty dishes.
• Pulling extra water that can be used to flush commodes. A bucket or large pan of water poured into the commode will flush it in an emergency. Water can also be stored in a bathtub for non-potable purposes but please be careful if you have young children.

The Town will also provide a flat of bottled water to help customers during this outage if needed. Contact the Town Office at 540-338-7878 to request your water.

The Round Hill Fire Department has been notified and will add a tanker task force and will also make continency plans on additional engines that can lay supply fire hoses from Evening Star and East Loudoun Street if needed in an emergency.

There will also be a lane closure on East Loudoun Street while crews are working and motorist are urged to use caution while travelling through the area.

Crews will work as quickly possible to complete the work and restore service to customers. The Town will provide updates as work progresses on its website and page, and through Alert Loudoun. Residents can also call 540-338-7878 or 540-454-3636 if they have any questions regarding the service interruption.