Warning system could come for Occoquan Dam

OCCOQUAN, Va. - The Occuquan Reservoir Dam holds back eight billion gallons of drinking water and for years there's been no warning system for people if the dam breaks.

The historic town of Occoquan is no stranger to flooding. Part of the town was underwater during two hurricanes, Agnes and Ivan, and storm overflow occasionally inundates Mill street, but Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta says the 50 year old dam is in good shape.

"The one thing that's the real 800 pound gorilla obviously is if there is a catastrophic failure."

Porta is pleased that the federal government is sending $25,000 for the town's share of a siren alarm system.

"You don't want to be in a situation where the dam fails and you have no way to really warn people."

The sirens would give people around 10 minutes to run uphill about three blocks.

In a dam burst waves of 19 feet or higher would overrun the town even if the river was at its lowest levels. A recent emergency action exercise by Occoquan and The Fairfax County Water Authority, who owns the dam, says waves could get as high as 47 feet.

Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly earmarked the funding as part of a Congressional appropriations bill. The bill passed the House Thursday and is expected to pass the Senate soon.

Fairfax Water will pay for the rest of the system. It could be installed and working in about a year.

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