Northwood News ♦ April 2009

WSSC Replaces Water Mains in Our Neighborhood

By Jacquie Bokow

Gary J. Gumm, Chief Engineer for the Engineering and Construction Team at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, spoke to NFCCA members at the February [2009] meeting.  He was asked about projects planned for the Four Corners area, since street surveys were being made in our neighborhood by a subcontractor, JMT.

Gumm sent the map at right, which shows the streets in Four Corners where 5.7 miles of water mains are being replaced.  Felicia James, a Professional Engineer at Infrastructure Systems Group in Laurel, is managing the design of the project.  As a general rule, all water reconstruction program design consultants do their own surveys for any relocation design.

“JMT has been doing the survey work for the water mains to be relocated,” said James.  “JMT also sends out notification letters to the residents in the area where they will be working.”

The work indicated on the map in South Four Corners is being conducted by in-house WSSC staff, not JMT.  “Actually, they have already accomplished much of it and have about 2.2 miles to go,” said Gumm.  “We expect that this work will occur over the next two years and that work should recommence in July 2009.” [The original color map shows water main replacements being designed by JMT in red (North Four Corners) and the water mains designated for replacement by the Systems Enhancement Unit in orange (South Four Corners).]

“When the project is reaching the 90 percent design stage later this spring,” added Gumm, “the project manager [James] intends on scheduling a public meeting in the neighborhood.  This is likely to happen in April or May as we get closer to knowing more certainty the construction schedule for the project.”   ■