The Sanitary Infrastructure Division is responsible for the following:
- Planning level engineering encompassing over 240 miles of sanitary and combined sewer within the City
- Development and implementation of the City’s 10-year Sanitary Sewer Capital Improvement Program
- Coordination with the City’s Department of Project Implementation related to design and construction of sanitary sewer capital projects
- Coordination with Alexandria Renew Enterprises on the RiverRenew Program for the combined sewer system
- Review of development and redevelopment plans and in order to ensure adequate sewer capacity to accommodate growth and identify when upgrades to sewer infrastructure are required to serve new development
- Ensuring
that development projects located within the CSS comply with the City’s CSS
Management Policy for development/redevelopment
RiverRenew Program for the Combined Sewer System
The City’s combined sewer system dates back to the 1800s and comprises approximately 540 acres located in the Old Town area. During most wet weather events, combined sewage (mixture of wastewater and stormwater runoff) discharges through one of four combined sewer outfalls into receiving waterways. In April 2017, the Virginia General Assembly passed a new law requiring the remediation of these outfalls by July 1, 2015. The City, working with Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew), submitted to a Long Term Control Plan (Plan) to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) in 2018. This Plan calls for the construction of an underground tunnel system to bring combined sewage to the AlexRenew wastewater treatment facility, thus significantly reducing both the number and volume of combined sewer discharges into City waterways. As of July 1, 2018, VDEQ has approved the Plan and the City has transferred ownership of the combined sewer outfalls to AlexRenew. AlexRenew is implementing as part of its RiverRenew Program.
Read more about the combined sewer system and the RiverRenew Program or contact Lalit Sharma at 703.746.4072 for more information.
City Council–AlexRenew Board Combined Sewer Project Workgroup
In order to facilitate partnership between the City and AlexRenew and to provide a liaison for input and feedback, on June 26, 2018, City Council passed a resolution to establish the City Council–AlexRenew Board Combined Sewer Project Workgroup. The workgroup includes two members of City Council, appointed by the Mayor, and two members of the AlexRenew Board. The purpose of the workgroup is to review and guide the plans, design, implementation, costs and financing of the CSO construction project with the intent of minimizing community impacts and maximizing community benefits.
Read more about the City Council–AlexRenew Board Combined Sewer Project Workgroup.
RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group
Established through City Council Resolution No. 2850, a 13-member stakeholder advisory group was formed to monitor the implementation of the RiverRenew Project. This group is comprised of a diverse group of citizens representing Alexandria neighborhoods, businesses, environmental groups and other stakeholders.
Read more about the RiverRenew Stakeholder Advisory Group.
Old Town Sewer Assessment and Rehabilitation Program
This project provides for the condition assessment of all sewers in the in the Old Town area (including the combined sewer area) of the City and remediation of structurally deficient sewers and sewer structures. This project will be completed in several phases. The first phase will begin in March 2019 and will consist of physical inspections of all manholes and inlets in the Old Town area. This phase of the project is anticipated to last approximately one year. Temporary no parking signs will be posted in work areas where access to these structures are needed to complete the inspection.
Read more about the Old Town Sewer Assessment and Rehabilitation Program or contact Erin Bevis-Carver at 703.746.4154.
Citywide Infiltration and Inflow Remediation Program
Over the past two decades, the City has implemented a program to address excessive infiltration and inflow into sanitary sewers throughout the majority of the City. During wet weather, infiltration and inflow can result in sanitary sewers operating over capacity leading to sewer back-ups and release of pollutants into City waterways. To date, the City has spent approximately $30M addressing infiltration and inflow by rehabilitating over 60 miles of sanitary sewer and repairing close to 3,200 manholes. The City is currently in post-construction monitoring status following rehabilitation of sewers and manholes in the Holmes Run Sewershed. Flow meters are currently installed throughout this sewershed and the data will be used to estimate how much infiltration and inflow has been reduced.
Read more about the Infiltration and Inflow Program or contact Suzanne Salva at 703.746.4059 for more information.
Sanitary Sewer Master Plan
The City has developed a Sanitary Sewer Master Plan (Sewer Plan) to provide the City with a summary of its sanitary sewer assets and existing programs, and future needs corresponding to forecasted growth. The Sewer Plan was approved by Planning Commission and City Council for adoption as a chapter to the City’s Master Plan in February 2013. The City is currently in the process of updating the plan for approval in Spring 2020 following outreach to residents, businesses and the development community.
Read more about the Sanitary Sewer Master Plan or contact Erin Bevis-Carver at 703.746.4154 for more information.
Sanitary Sewer Geographical Information System (GIS)
There are over 240 miles of sanitary and combined sewers located within the City. Information about these sewers are available to the public on the City’s GIS Sewer Viewer. The Sewer Viewer displays the sewer network, and includes information such as pipe diameters, flow directions and manholes.