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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Will the project affect traffic in the Ocean Lakes neighborhood?
A. The number of vehicles entering the treatment plant will increase due to construction traffic. We are currently working with the city of Virginia Beach to develop a plan to minimize the impact of construction traffic on the school and neighborhood.
- Q: What inconveniences do you expect?
A. As with every construction project, we expect the routine noise generated by the operation of heavy equipment, but this should not occur at night. This project will not require pile driving, which is usually the most annoying construction activity. There also may be additional dust in the air during the earth-moving phase of the project. The contractor will be required to apply water to the site periodically to minimize dust.
- Q: Does the project include additional odor control?
A. The project includes a new odor control scrubber facility for the preliminary treatment facility, primary clarifiers and aeration tanks, and an odor control station for the digested solids storage tank. The first third of the new aeration basins also will be covered for odor control.
- Q: Did you conduct an environmental assessment for this project?
A. Yes. An environmental assessment and a cultural resources survey were conducted in accordance with the procedural guidelines for Virginia’s Clean Water Revolving Fund, issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. If you would like to view a copy of the comprehensive report prepared by HDR Engineering Inc., please call HRSD’s Communications Division at 460-7056.
- Q. Where is the plant’s effluent discharged?
A. Treated effluent is discharged directly to the Atlantic Ocean through a 66-inch diameter outfall pipe and multi-port diffuser, to an area approximately 1.5 miles offshore.
- Q: Is biological nutrient removal an element of this project?
A. Because the effluent is discharged to the ocean, there are no nutrient reduction requirements for this plant. However, the project has been designed to accommodate biological nutrient removal should that become necessary.
- Q. How have you notified the community of the project?
A. HRSD held a public hearing June 29, 2005, at 7 p.m.
in the Ocean Lakes High School Schola to discuss the proposed improvements
and solicit comments. Hearing notices appeared May 29 and June 5 in
the Virginian-Pilot’s legal notices section. A display ad ran
June 19 in The Virginian-Pilot Beacon. In addition, notices that included
an offer of special briefings were provided to area civic association
leaders, elected officials and treatment plant neighbors.
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