RCA Newsletter: July 2025

Jol Silversmith
Jul 31
2 min read

Oktoberfest Planning Underway!

Planning is under way for the second (resumed) annual Oktoberfest in Beach Park on September 27, 1-6pm. The August newsletter will include more information, including volunteering opportunities.

In the meantime, if you have any questions/ideas, just reach out to your favorite RCA folks!

August Happy Hour

We have scheduled our next neighborhood happy hour at the Rosemont Cellar for Wednesday, August 13, 5-7pm. Please plan to join us!

Community Updates

Leaf Blowers

The City has posted some information about the ban on gas-powered leaf blowers adopted by the City Council in May. The prohibition will become effective for the City’s own operations on July 1, 2026, and for all purposes on November 17, 2026. See https://www.alexandriava.gov/news-tes/2025-06-12/alexandria-city-council-passes-ordinance-to-regulate-the-use-of-gas-powered.

Citizens Academies

The City offers various “academies” about City programs, including for the police and sheriff departments; application information for fall programs can be found at https://www.alexandriava.gov/Academies.

PELT Committee Update: Summer Vacay Edition

Lead Service Line Replacement: Things to Prepare For

The PELT committee members are taking a much needed break, so the newsletter editor is bringing a little PELT-related information from E. Maple Street, where after sewer replacements, we jumped right into service line replacements.

If your home was identified as having a lead service line, you’ll want to be prepared for the steps you have to take after replacement. Because removal of the old line can loosen pipe scale, lead levels can temporarily increase in the months after replacement.

Immediately after replacement, American Water will leave instructions to perform a whole house flush of your pipes, starting with the tap closest to where the water line enters the home. This is a 30 minute flush of all of the pipes in your home.

For SIX MONTHS following replacement, you are instructed to filter all drinking and cooking water. AmWater provides a free filter pitcher after replacement to get you started.

At the three month mark, AmWater will send a water quality test kit and provide feedback on the results.

There are some great infrastructure investments being made here in Rosemont; stay informed with PELT to help prepare to weather the changes and necessary disruptions!

Next RCA Meeting

Please join us for the next RCA meeting on September 17 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 100 West Luray Avenue, at 7pm.

Agenda items will be forthcoming; we expect to be joined by Mayor Gaskins!

Resources from Alexandria Sheriff’s Office

The Alexandria Sheriff’s office offers a house-watching service (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/away-from-home-check). Additionally, the Sheriff continue to offer “Project Lifesaver” to help track adults and children with special needs (https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/project-lifesaver).