This project will contribute to the broader Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Program, which will add advanced water treatment processes, producing highly treated water (SWIFT Water®) that meets drinking water standards and is suitable for recharge of the Potomac Aquifer. Once all of the upgrades for the Virginia Initiative Plant are complete, this plant will add additional water treatment before the effluent is discharged into the Elizabeth River. This program will help significantly reduce the amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay, thereby helping to ensure HRSD’s ability to protect public health and the environment for decades to come.

The current Virginia Initiative Plant is landlocked. To meet forthcoming nutrient discharge requirements, an additional treatment step (Tertiary) must be integrated with the existing plant. To this end, HRSD purchased a portion of the former Lambert’s Point Golf Course that lies between the Virigina Initiative Plant and the Elizabeth River from the City of Norfolk in 2018. The new Tertiary Treatment Facility is anticipated to be constructed on the former golf course land.

The Tertiary Treatment Facility project will support HRSD’s nutrient management strategy for meeting the 2032 Lower James River Basin total phosphorus discharge limits.

The plan is to have a portion of the land remain available for public use during HRSD’s site activities when feasible. However, due to the nature of the project, access to the property may be restricted during specific times to keep the public safe from site investigation and construction activities. Notifications of any closures will be announced on our website and social media platforms, and signage will be posted on the property.

The City of Norfolk and HRSD have agreed to leave a 125-foot-wide recreational easement peripherally surrounding the former golf course property. The specific utilization of this area is still under evaluation by the City of Norfolk.

HRSD continues to work closely with the City of Norfolk and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to collaborate in support of the City’s implementation of this comprehensive flood risk reduction solution.

We anticipate site investigations and design to be completed as early as summer 2026. Construction is expected to begin in fall 2026 and completed by late 2028. The construction of the Tertiary Treatment Facility is scheduled to be completed by 2032.

The work will be confined to HRSD’s existing treatment plant property and HRSD’s Lambert’s Point property. Construction traffic will be entering and exiting the site via Powhatan Avenue. Disruptions to traffic will be minimized. No planned detours are anticipated, but flagging will be used to help direct traffic as needed.

Before construction commences, site investigations will be conducted to improve understanding of site conditions, identify potential risks, and facilitate planning and design. Temporary access to the area will be granted for public use when feasible. However, due to specific working conditions, public access may be affected. To ensure public safety, appropriate signage, notifications, and fencing will be utilized to indicate when the property is accessible to the public and when access is restricted for safety reasons. Typically, work will be conducted from Monday to Friday during daylight hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Nonetheless, there may be occasions when extended hours, night work, or weekend shifts are necessary.

Those who live close to the project site should anticipate normal construction noise, which may include excavators, truck traffic, generators, and a combination of other background sources.

All materials will be at stored on the HRSD property.

Workers 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.

The estimated cost (planning, design, and construction) for the Tertiary Site Work is $32 million, and the Tertiary Treatment Facility is $324 million. HRSD intends to apply for funding to build the project through state and federal agencies. Funds from HRSD ratepayers will also go toward the final costs as needed.

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 email notifications whenever there is a substantial update on the project.