Environmental Health Assessment

In 2003, the Health Department began an environmental health assessment of the City. The assessment will help the City better understand the community's environmental health needs and provide useful technical data from which to set priorities for environmental health action. The information gathered will also assist in the strategic allocation of community health resources.

West Nile Virus

The Health Department increased its ability to respond to the threat of West Nile virus through increased mosquito trapping and identification activities, larviciding the drop inlets in the City's storm drain system, conducting extensive surveys and remediation of mosquito breeding areas, and increasing public education efforts. The City had only one reported case of West Nile virus in a human in 2002. Surrounding Northern Virginia jurisdictions had 19 confirmed human cases of West Nile virus and two deaths.

Hybrid Vehicles Added to City Motor Pool

The City purchased two gasoline-electric hybrid Toyota Prius sedans to add to the City's motor pool. The Prius primarily operates on a battery-powered electric motor and utilizes a gasoline engine to re-charge the batteries and assist the vehicle on hills and highways. The purchase of the Prius will reduce fuel consumption and costs significantly over the vehicle's life, and will emit far less pollutants than a fully gas-powered car. Over time, the City hopes to replace all non-emergency sedans with hybrids.

Storm Water Management Plan

The City received state approval of the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit in July. This included approval of the City's Storm Water Management Plan for the next five years. The plan identifies requirements needed to reduce the pollutants in storm water being discharged in the Potomac River Chesapeake Bay Watershed to the maximum extent practicable, and thereby protect water quality.