City Responds to Potomac River Cleanup Extension Rejection

ALEXANDRIA, VA — The City of Alexandria has been notified that the Governor has signed House Bill 2383 and Senate Bill 898, which requires Alexandria to remediate its four combined sewer outfalls by July 1, 2025.

“We appreciate the Governor’s earlier efforts to substitute a more reasonable deadline, and we remain fully committed to getting all four outfalls in Alexandria done, and to getting them done right,” said Mayor Allison Silberberg. “While we are moving full steam ahead, we are very concerned that this legislation requires a deadline engineers have indicated is not feasible.”

The legislation does not apply to other localities in Virginia with combined sewer outfalls, and will require the City to plan, design, and construct massive underground storage tanks and tunnels in less than half the time other communities have been given, the press release states. The City’s four combined sewer outfalls already operate under state permits and comply with all federal and state laws, regulations, and permit requirements, including the federal Clean Water Act.

See Related:

• Governor's Proposal Grants Alexandria's Potomac Cleanup an Extension
• Potomac River Cleanup Extension Rejected by Legislature

The General Assembly rejected amendments recommended by the Governor, which would have changed the required deadline to 2027 and given the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality the authority to grant six-month extensions up to 2030 to address circumstances beyond the City’s control.

Longstanding concerns about wastewater flowing into the Potomac prompted the bills this year. Alexandria is one of 860 cities faced with tackling combined sewer systems due to regulations under the Clean Water Act. Cities like Richmond Lynchburg face similar concerns.

According to Alexandria city government, the project could cost nearly $400 million. The combined sewer system serves about 5 percent of Alexandria, with the remainder having separate systems. Alexandria's combined sewer system dates back to the 1800s, making it one of the first in the country.

Residential, commercial and non-profit customers could see their sewer fees increase to comply with the state mandates. Under the city's proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, the sewer fee would rise from $1.40 to $1.82 per 1,000 gallons and the solid waste fee from $363 to $373. The city is set to implement a stormwater utility fee in 2018. The capital budget of $368 million accounts for sewer fee increases through the next ten years.

Image via Pixabay, used under Creative Commons