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Climate change is already straining Northern Virginia’s waterways, drinking water systems and flood-control infrastructure, speakers told more than 200 people at the third annual Climate Action Conference on Oct. 18 at Lake Braddock Secondary School.

U.S. Rep. James Walkinshaw, who organized the first conference in 2023 while serving as Braddock District supervisor, praised Fairfax County’s climate programs but warned that federal policy is moving in the opposite direction.

Walkinshaw called the current Environmental Protection Agency a “climate denial machine” and pointed to rising seas and record heat as warnings that demand action. He had served in Congress for six weeks after winning the 11th District seat on Sept. 9. The election followed the death of Rep. Gerry Connolly in May.

Flooding threatens every community

Fairfax County Public Works and Environmental Services Director Chris Herrington said no resident faces zero flood risk.

He outlined three major forms of flooding: rivers and creeks spilling into floodplains; urban flooding where low-lying areas have undersized infrastructure; and coastal flooding.

The Mount Vernon District is particularly vulnerable to tidal surges because it borders the Potomac and Occoquan rivers. Existing flood-control systems offer some protection, Herrington said, but water can reach neighborhoods once those defenses are overwhelmed.

Storm damage also costs more than it did in previous years, he added, leaving the public to bear the expense.

Virginia Del. David Bulova, chair of the tri-state Chesapeake Bay Commission, said sea level rose by one foot during the past century and could climb another 1.2 to 1.5 feet over the next century. Rising water can worsen flooding and submerge coastal wetlands that help control floods and protect water quality.

Bulova said much of the stormwater infrastructure installed during the 1980s and 1990s was designed without climate change in mind and will need to be upgraded.

Heat and storms complicate drinking water treatment

Fairfax Water General Manager Jamie Bain Hedges said the utility processes 170 million gallons of water each day for two million people.

Its water comes from the Potomac River, whose 10,000-square-mile watershed crosses four states, and the Occoquan Reservoir, which receives drainage from a 590-square-mile watershed.

A warmer and less predictable climate creates uncertainty about water supplies as droughts become longer and more severe and stream flows fluctuate. Powerful storms can also wash additional sediment and pollution into source water, requiring more treatment.

Higher water temperatures encourage algae growth. Hedges recalled a major 2024 event that turned Potomac River water green and forced Fairfax Water to use additional treatment chemicals.

Runoff containing winter de-icing salt presents another problem. Hedges said the utility cannot remove that salt using its existing technology.

Keynote speaker Anna-Marie Laura, the Ocean Conservancy’s director of climate policy, noted that 2024 was the hottest year on record. She said warmer oceans contribute to heavier, more frequent and less predictable storms, as well as more destructive hurricanes.

Residents urged to hold back runoff

Chris Koerner, a Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District board member, said paved and other impervious surfaces cause runoff to rise quickly, erode stream banks, reduce groundwater recharge and carry pesticides, oils and salts into waterways.

He recommended replacing turf with gardens, adopting conservation landscaping and using rain barrels and rain gardens to keep more water on the land.

Mason District Supervisor Andres Jimenez highlighted Fairfax County’s reliance on science-based policies. He said the county plans to revise its stormwater ordinance so that failing to maintain stormwater facilities becomes a violation.

During a breakout session called “Rethinking Runoff,” Fairfax Water’s Nikki Bellezza encouraged homeowners to slow water down, help it soak into the ground and spread it across the landscape. Creating no-mow areas and replacing grass with native plants can help accomplish that goal.

County public works official Shannon Curtis reminded attendees that “only rain goes down the storm drain.” Pet waste, litter, bacteria and pathogens are among the pollutants that can wash into local waterways.

Curtis advised residents washing cars at home to direct the water onto land instead of streets, where it can enter storm drains and pollute streams. He also recommended drought-resistant native trees and plants and reduced water consumption.

Fairfax County resident Susan Miles said information from all three conferences had led her to make changes, including buying an electric vehicle and installing solar panels. Seventeen organizations and five county agencies staffed exhibits at the event.

Herrington urged residents to learn the flood hazards surrounding their own properties because some level of risk will always remain. Curtis closed with a reminder that individual choices are still within residents’ control.