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Courtesy of South County Chronicle, April 2, 2003
© 2003 South County Chronicle
Occoquan Watershed Documentary World Premiers
By Bradford P. Engborg
Documentary filmmaker Dave Eckert's new film, "Reclaiming Our Water: The Occoquan River Watershed," examines the only major drinking water supply source in the United States that depends on the release of treated sewage wastewater as its principal and constant source for drinking water. The film uncovers not only how this incredibly unique local watershed supplies drinking water to over one million Northern Virginians, but how it began, how it relates to everyone who lives in any urban or suburban area, and how growing populations and increased development can overwhelm limited local water supply sources.
Dave Eckert of Virginia Village Productions produced, directed and wrote the script for this film, narrated by Frank Stasio of NPR's "Talk of the Nation" and "All Things Considered". Dave spent nine months researching the history and facts, interviewing people, and touring the watershed's spectacular and beautiful landscapes. Dave takes the viewer on a journey into secluded regions close to our homes and introduces us to special local people whose stories bring to life the magical history of a world so close yet one we didn't know existed. He takes us from the beginning of the watershed all the way to our drinking glass while taking a hard look at the complex issue of having safe and plentiful drinking water. An issue faced not only here, but in many locations throughout the United States.
Backing and financial support from the Northern Virginia Regional Commission (NVRC) gave Dave the opportunity to produce a notable and entertaining film while enlightening the viewer to some interesting civic and environmental education. The NVRC sponsored this film as part of their New Millennium Occoquan Watershed Task Force, created in March of 2002. The task force examines issues of the Occoquan Watershed and presents recommendations on how to maintain high water quality for this region now and in the future.
Even before this film was officially completed, Dave Eckert's reputation preceded him. As his second major documentary, he earned a coveted spot for the World Premier at the 2003 DC Environmental Film Festival on March 19th. All the filming and the people featured in the film was done locally. Special premier screenings also occurred at Rockledge Manor in the Town of Occoquan and at the State Theater in Falls Church.
The Occoquan Reservoir in Northern Virginia is the only major drinking water supply source in the United States dependent on the release of treated sewage wastewater back into the reservoir as its principal and constant source for drinking water. People of the Washington metropolitan area depend upon a secure, clean water supply source and the most dependable water supply in this region also happens to be the most urbanized drinking supply watershed in the United States.
Using voice overs from real people sharing their stories and intertwining old footage and photos, Dave helps us understand how the system in existence now came into being by looking at the region's history. The watershed, which is made up of 590 square miles of hills and valleys in Northern Virginia, provides clean streams and groundwater to supply the Occoquan River. Old swimming holes, like Mullet Hole, provided countless hours of enjoyment and relaxation for many children and families. People also used the river for baptisms, skating and fishing. Fish like herring and crappie were so plentiful people could catch their daily limits within half an hour. Up until the 1940s the population of this area was small. That changed following World War II when a population boom caused the need for more water. Springs, streams and wells dried up or became polluted. The time had come to make some changes to serve the growing population as water needs could no longer be met by small independent water suppliers. A comprehensive system was planned and as part of that plan Fairfax Country bought the Occoquan Reservoir from a small private water company and created the Fairfax Water Authority in 1957.
A low water damn was initally built covering the Old Mullet swimming hole. Later in the 1950's and again in the 1980s the damn was raised to further accommodate needs. This high damn as we know it today is up river from the Town of Occoquan and holds about 8 billion gallons of water. Damns like this influence a variety of environmental factors including regional water flow, temperature, and species at various levels on the food chain (aquatic, land animals and birds). In the late 1960s the reservoir water quality was diminishing severely and became undrinkable. It became necessary to analyze the impact of wastewater on the reservoir water quality which was an irreplaceable water source for the region.
In the 1970s the State Water Control board threatened a moratorium on new development in the watershed in Prince William and Fairfax Counties if a clean and reliable water supply could not be provided. The end result and solution involved building a state of the art water reclamation center of a scale never before attempted anywhere in the United States. A feat still in effect today.
The new plant was built and started operation in June of 1978. Because of the newness of this concept, reclaiming domestic wastewater and using it to supplement the public water supply, it was decided to have independent regulatory entities set up to continually monitor the treatment. The Occoquan Watershed Monitoring Laboratory was established to do just this. The new plant met the water quality performance parameters on the very first day of operation. The most regulated source is the highly treated wastewater discharged daily just above the reservoir. This water may be the most analyzed water in the world. It is analyzed by the Sewage Authority, The Fairfax County Water Authority, the Occoquan Water Monitoring Laboratory, by state scientists, and by numerous Universities performing independent research on this unique reservoir. They test for 120 contaminates and the levels must be far below levels set by Federal standards.
The system created and in effect today produces the most reliable, cleanest, and least expensive drinking water in the United States. No small feat and indeed an important one as in today's world we are facing a crisis in regard to the allocation and distribution of water in areas with high populations. It is an issue of National Security to protect resources, like water, that are most essential to human life.
This film showcases the need for communities here and all over the United States to look at the issue of water, how not to panic, but to look ahead at the future and understand how development projects are going to increase population sizes and possibly tax water supplies and other natural resources.
If you would like to purchase a copy of this documentary, please contact the producer Dave Eckert of Virginia Village Productions at 703-532-0884.