Alexandria Sewer Systems Fixes Approved

Alexandria's plan for remediating part of Alexandria's sewer system has been approved by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The city is required to make fixes to the system to prevent sewage from mixing with rainwater and getting into the Potomac River and streams to meet state requirements.

Alexandria Renew Enterprises, which runs sewage treatment for the city, will lead the project. The plan includes constructing a two-mile long deep tunnel system and new sewer infrastructure connecting the tunnels to the existing sewer system. By connecting to the existing outfalls, it will prevent millions of gallons of sewage mixing with rainwater and reaching rivers and streams.

The plan also includes upgrades to AlexRenew’s Water Resource Recovery Facility to pump and treat wastewater collected in the tunnels. Instead of going directly to the rivers and steams, the sewage and rainwater mixture will be captured by the tunnel system and sent to AlexRenew’s Water Resource Recovery Facility to be made into clean water and returned to the Potomac River.

The remediated system is expected to reduce the occurrence of sewage reaching the waterways from 60 to less than four times per year on average and reduce pollution in Hooffs Run, Hunting Creek and the Potomac River.

State legislation requires the city to fix the four sewer outfalls by July 1, 2025. Construction is expected to begin in late 2020 and be completed in the summer of 2025.

For more information, visit alexwetweatherprogram.com.

Image via Patch editor Emily Leayman