Why Now? - If the Occoquan Dam has been there for 50 years, why
are you just now installing a siren system? Great question! We
have installed the sirens for two reasons. First, because of
changing regulatory requirements, our regulatory agency - the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission - has suggested that we
install a sound-related system to inform people downstream of
the dam in the extremely unlikely event of a dam structural
failure. The second reason is that when we worked with the
communities closest to the dam, namely the Town of Occoquan, it
was the Town's feeling that a siren system would be the most
effective and desired form of communication to alert people to
the extremely unlikely event of a dam failure. How strong is the
dam? Very strong. The structural integrity of the Occoquan Dam
is very sound. In fact, through rigorous maintenance and
improvements, it is even stronger today than when it was
constructed. The dam is approximately 72 feet tall and 70 feet
wide at its widest point. It is anchore