Reducing Rainwater in the Sanitary Sewer System-Suffolk

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"Reducing Rainwater in the Sanitary Sewer System-Suffolk"
High Priority Inflow and Infiltration Reduction Program (GN020300)

HRSD is undertaking a project to identify, design, and construct important improvements in your community to help reduce the amount of rainwater that gets into the sanitary sewer system through inflow and infiltration. This project will include rehabilitating and replacing damaged sanitary sewer pipes, service lateral connections, and manholes. The result of this work will help reduce the occurrence of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) caused by rainfall events, protecting public health and our region’s waterways.

HRSD will assess the sanitary sewer systems in the project areas identified in the Regional Wet Weather Management Plan (RWWMP), located in Chesapeake, James City County, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Williamsburg, and York County. Working in collaboration with Locality Partners, HRSD will identify and reduce the volume of SSOs through the cost-effective reduction of Inflow and Infiltration. This Program is part of HRSD’s Consent Decree with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Early work includes collecting data, evaluating the sewer flow, and reviewing the data to identify and prioritize potential future project work areas and schedules. Data collection activities may involve sewer flow monitoring, smoke testing of the sanitary sewer system, closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspections of public and private sewer and service lateral, dye testing, and manhole inspections. Once all data is collected, evaluated, and prioritized, the project team will begin design, procurement, and construction activities if it is determined that construction is needed. When complete, these projects will reduce the volume of SSOs into our local waterways.

Please use the map below to view work that is currently occurring in your area:

April 29, 2025

Data collection and evaluation activities will occur to determine if future improvements are needed. Field activities in Suffolk will be updated here as they occur.

Engineering Planning and Design:: Fall 2024 - Late 2026

Potential Construction:: Spring 2026 - Late 2029

: This project is a necessary part of a larger, federally mandated program to reduce sanitary sewer overflows during rainstorms. This project will assess and update sewer infrastructure that will help HRSD protect public health and local waterways for decades to come.
: Disruptions to traffic will be minimized, and in most cases, a single lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained. No planned detours are anticipated, but flagging will be used to help direct traffic as needed. Most of the project work will be located within the public right-of way and work will not happen on private property without advance notice.
: The contractor will maintain access to each residence and at least one entrance to businesses. Trash and mail services will not be affected. If necessary, the contractor will move trash containers from within a work zone to an area accessible for pickup and will be responsible for returning them to each residence.
: Work will typically take place Monday through Friday during daylight hours (7 a.m. - 5 p.m.). However, there may be times when extended hours, work at night, or weekend work may be necessary.
: Your water and sewer service should not be affected by this project.
: When necessary, the contractor will negotiate with a private property owner for a storage area in the project vicinity, and this site will be used for most of the equipment and supplies. The contractor will keep some supplies within the active work zone, in the public right-of way.
: Contractors will not be allowed to park their personal vehicles on the public streets. However, work trucks will be allowed to park within the active work zone.
: Regular project updates are posted on the HRSD website at www.hrsd.com/construction-status. You may also sign up at www.hrsd.com/subscriptions to receive an email notification whenever the website has an update about the project.

Public Information Specialist:: Lisa Bolen
757.460.7000 (Office)

HRSD Project Manager:: Nicholas Taschner

Additional Information:: Projects@hrsd.com

Chief Communication Officer:: Leila Rice, APR
757.460.7056 (Office)

Engineering Consultant Firm:: Burns & McDonnell
Virginia Beach, VA

Engineering Consultant Project Lead:: Steve Crede

Design-Builder Program Manager:: John Pruss

Design-Builder Deputy Program Manager:: Bryan Canzoneri