Gas Smell Permeates Northern Va. Neighborhoods

WTOP recently reported residents in Fairfax and Loudoun counties were treated to the smell of natural gas due to Washington Gas equipment malfunctions.

Here's a quote from the article:

Residents and business owners in parts of Sterling, Ashburn and Western Fairfax reported smelling gas starting on Saturday afternoon.

A Washington Gas spokeswoman says there they have found only pinhead leaks in some lines but no big leaks.

An equipment malfunction put too much mercaptan, the additive that gives natural gas its smell, into the system.

Unfortunately, I believe this is only a small symptom of a much larger problem at Washington Gas. The company must focus resources on its field operations and employees or it will see much larger issues and malfunctions in the future. If you cut and eliminate too much from an organization to lower expenses, you will eventually handicap its ability to ensure the safe operation of its systems.