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A Pressure Letter is issued by HRSD at the request of a design engineer or Locality and provides the requestor with the range of expected pressures at a particular point on the HRSD interceptor force main system. It is required for any project with a pressurized connection to HRSD.
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The system pressures are simulated based on the Regional Hydraulic Model that was developed by HRSD and in coordination with the Localities which it serves. They are also confirmed by the pressure meters located throughout our system.
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HRSD's interceptor system is a dynamic pressurized system and we periodically make infrastructure improvements which may impact system pressures. As a result, a Pressure Letter is valid for one year from the date of issuance. Beyond one year, we would recommend that the design engineers or a Locality request a new pressure letter.
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While uncommon, HRSD will evaluate each instance on a case-by-case basis. Please contact Development Services [insert email address] if this occurs.
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The requestor must provide a brief description of the utility improvements proposed with the project and provide a map depicting the location of the project site along with the flow routing and connection point to HRSD's interceptor network.
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A Flow Acceptance Letter is HRSD's review and approval to a request to accept new sanitary sewer service into the regional system. A FAL is the main tracking method for HRSD to account for new flows entering the sanitary sewer system. The tracking of flows also allows HRSD to anticipate future capacity upgrades that may be needed based on the amount of new flows entering the system.
For Small Communities: King William County, West Point, Mathews County, Middlesex County and Urbanna, HRSD requires all development to be submitted for review.
For Suffolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Poquoson, Newport News, James City County, Williamsburg, York, and Gloucester HRSD requires projects over 40,000 GPD to be submitted for review.
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A FAL is issued only when a formal request is signed and submitted by the Locality.
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Localities are required to formally request for a FAL for two reasons:
- To ensure the utility improvements proposed with any particular project have gone through the Locality's development and land use review and approval processes.
- To ensure the Locality's existing or new infrastructure has adequate capacity to meet existing and future growth.
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For all FAL requests HRSD reviews the proposed flow for the project to make certain that it has been calculated according to the HRSD Regional Sewage Flow Projection Data table. This ensures that all estimated flows are being calculated in a consistent manner that has been agreed upon by HRSD and the Localities that it serves.
HRSD also reviews pump station designs to ensure (a) the pumps selected for the application are based on the pressure analysis provided previously by HRSD and (b) the pumps have adequate capacity for the design conditions.
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All FAL requests are kept in a database for flow tracking purposes and reviewed in aggregate periodically.
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If the project location falls within an existing HRSD Service Area, FAL requests (received from the locality) are approved once the site plans, pump station design (if necessary) and connection details have been approved by HRSD, provided there is sufficient capacity in the interceptor and treatment system to accept the flow.
In cases where the project location falls within an existing HRSD Service Area, but there is not sufficient capacity available, a Conditional FAL will be issued, meaning that HRSD will need to make infrastructure improvements before the flow can be accepted, and the sanitary service connection will need to be delayed until the needed capacity is in place.
If the project is not within an existing HRSD Service Area, a FAL request will not be processed until the appropriate Service Area Expansion Request has been submitted by the locality and approved by HRSD (see HRSD Facility Info).
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All proposed taps must be pre-approved by HRSD Engineering during the project design. Construction of the tap must be coordinated with HRSD Operations.
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Yes, the currently approved contractors can be found here.
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Fill out the HRSD Interceptor Force Main Tapping Application which can be found here and send the original signed application to the appropriate Interceptor System Manager at HRSD (contact information found on the application).
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This depends on the proposed location, if there is an existing tap reasonably near the project site; the project engineer must consider that alternative first before proposing a new tap. Unless there is a compelling reason not to utilize an existing tap, the Engineer must coordinate with HRSD during the project review process to ensure all reasonable alternatives for connection have been considered. Also, contingent upon the age, material, and known condition of the HRSD interceptor to be tapped, HRSD Operations staff has the final say whether a new tap is allowed or not.
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Please refer to HRSD's GIS portal where all existing tap locations (valve guides) are depicted on the map. The schematic diagram of the valve guide of interest can also be provided upon request.
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HRSD reviews all projects for proper flow calculations and for conflicts with HRSD infrastructure. Possible conflicts include the following:
- The project site is adjacent or near to HRSD infrastructure.
- Right-of-way improvements required by the project, i.e., new traffic lanes, repaving, are over HRSD's existing infrastructure.
- The project calls for new utility infrastructure (i.e., gas, cable, water, stormwater, power) crossings under/over HRSD's infrastructure.
- Project limits are encroaching existing HRSD utility easements or ROWs.
- Known future HRSD CIP projects in the area.
- Pressured connection directly/indirectly to HRSD's interceptor system.
- Construction vehicular access to the project site is required over an existing HRSD infrastructure.
For all commercial and industrial projects, HRSD reviews for permit applicability and possible strength characteristics.
For all projects in the Small Communities Division, plans are reviewed for compliance with HRSD standards.
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All projects which connect to an existing Locality gravity sewer collection system by gravity connection (no pump station is required), and the project site is not near existing HRSD infrastructure.
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Submit all required documentation electronically and adhere to HRSD Standards. All forms should be complete with all required backup documentation.
For resubmittals, make sure all previous plan review comments have been addressed before submitting updated plans for review.
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All forms should be emailed to: developrequest@hrsd.com
Supporting documentation that cannot be emailed should be mailed along with a typed (printed) copy of the form to: HRSD Development Services, P.O. Box 5911, Virginia Beach, VA 23471-0911.
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For all submissions, the PDF version of the forms, plans and corresponding documentation is the preferred electronic document to send in the email address.
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Yes, files larger than 10MB cannot be emailed to Development Services. Compressed (zipped) files, multiple emails, and submittal of only applicable plan sheets are acceptable methods to reduce size. Paper copies can be sent to the address above.
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There are no fees for reviewing plans.
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All plans, which require the applicable completed forms, will be reviewed within 15 working days. Any submittals that are incomplete or require revisions will take another 15 working days after all completed documents have been received by HRSD.
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HRSD reviews plans to ensure that there are no construction conflicts with HRSD infrastructure and to make sure that any new connections to HRSD are designed per our standards.
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HRSD as the regional wastewater authority needs to be involved in order to keep track of new development and sewage flows entering the system as part of our federally regulated capacity management program.
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The current billing rates can be found in the HRSD Rate Schedule located here.
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Surcharge fees are required for commercial or industrial accounts with high strength waste and that requires an HRSD discharge permit. This fee covers the additional costs associated with treating the wastes at the receiving wastewater treatment plant.
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The current connection fees can be found in the HRSD Rate Schedule located here.
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Please visit Payment Methods to see the available payment options.
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The facility charge may be waived if the applicable facility charge was paid when the building permit was originally issued.
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Connection fees are based on the size of the facility’s water meter. Please see the HRSD Rate Schedule located here for current charges.
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There are two separate facility charges: one based on volume of water (meter size) and the other based on strength of waste. Residential connections are only subject to the volume-based facility charges. Permitted commercial and industrial connections are subject to both volume and strength based charges. These charges pay for the transport and treatment of an account’s wastewater discharge.
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Please see the HRSD Fees section on the System Information webpage for more information.
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A GIS map of HRSD's facilities can be found at: https://www.hrsd.com/gis.
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You can submit a request for record drawings of HRSD's facilities at: https://www.hrsd.com/record-drawing-requests.
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HRSD's Service Area is defined through coordination with each jurisdiction that we serve and is based on each locality’s Comprehensive Plan for the area they wish to serve.
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A Service Area Expansion Request can be submitted for review to Development Services. All expansion requests need to go through the Locality for approval first before coming to HRSD so that each area is within the jurisdiction's sanitary sewer service area.