Poplar Heights Tank Replacement

Background

The existing Poplar Heights Tank was constructed by the City of Falls Church in 1952 on a small 0.13-acre site located in the Poplar Heights neighborhood in Fairfax County’s Providence District.

Fairfax Water acquired the City of Falls Church water system in January 2014 and continues to integrate the former City water system with the Fairfax Water system. As part of this effort, Fairfax Water identified the need to replace the Poplar Heights Tank to improve water pressure, enhance water quality, and provide additional water storage required by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH).

Why is a new tank needed?

The existing 70-year-old tank is undersized and configured such that only 40% of its total volume can be utilized without system pressures dropping below VDH regulations. This in turn increases the potential for water quality issues. A new tank is needed to provide additional water storage that can be fully utilized to improve water flow and pressure, and enhance system resiliency.

What will the new Poplar Heights Tank look like?

The new tank will be similar in height to the existing tank but larger in diameter to hold an increased volume of water. The water will be stored in an elevated steel bowl atop a concrete pedestal.

What are the benefits of a new tank?

Elevated storage tanks utilize gravity to produce consistent water system pressure and efficiently cycle all the water in the tank to maintain optimal water quality. Customers served by the new Poplar Heights Tank will benefit from improved, more consistent water pressure and strengthened water system reliability. The new tank will also increase the amount of water available for fire-fighting purposes.

Where will the new tank be constructed?

Fairfax Water has acquired additional property near the existing Poplar Heights Tank to accommodate the construction of the new tank after the existing tank has been demolished. The location is already established for water storage, centrally located within the portion of the water system the new tank will serve, and situated on locally high ground that will provide for optimal water pressure to the community.

What’s next?

Fairfax Water anticipates site plan approval from Fairfax County in early 2026, after which the project will be advertised for bids. Construction of the new tank is scheduled to begin in late 2026 with completion in 2028. Copies of the approved Fairfax County Special Exception and Site Plan Submittal can be found under the Project Documents section at the bottom of this page.  In advance of the tank construction, Fairfax Water will replace several aging water mains in the Poplar Heights neighborhood beginning this winter. For more information on the pending water main construction, please click on the link for the Poplar Heights Transmission Main – Phase 1 under the Project Documents.

Projected Schedule

Questions?

For questions or comments, please contact Dominic Brancaccio at 703.289.6367 or Robert Cotten at 703.289.6310 or submit electronically via our online webform (Click Here).