--Utility Work to Occur--
HRSD, your regional wastewater treatment utility, will begin work to install a sanitary sewer pipeline within Cameron Street between Libby Street and Bainbridge Avenue. The work within Cameron Street should take place between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday.
-- Temporary Dog Park Closure --
HRSD, your regional wastewater treatment utility, is undertaking improvements at the City’s Gymnastic Center as part of the James River Treatment Plant SWIFT Improvements. This work should take place primarily between the hours of 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday.
PROJECT UPDATES – SEPTEMBER 2022
On September 13th
(Construction Notice #9), we informed you that a planned period of 24-hour work was expected to occur between September 14th and September 17th.
HRSD, your regional wastewater treatment utility, in coordination with the County of Middlesex, is planning a project to install a new collection system on General Puller Highway in the Village of Cooks Corner. The answers to some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are provided here.
Project Overview
PROJECT UPDATES – SEPTEMBER 2022
On September 13th (Construction Notice
#9), we informed you that a planned period of 24-hour work was expected to occur between September 14th and September 17th.
-- PROJECT UPDATES - SEPTEMBER 2022 --
On September 8 (Construction Notice #8), we informed you that a
planned period of 24-hour work was expected to occur between September 10th and September 13th. Due to repair issues, the 24-hour work was postponed again.
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"Nansemond Treatment Plant SWIFT Improvements"
Nansemond Treatment Plant Advanced Nutrient Reduction Improvements (ANRI), Phase II
Nansemond SWIFT Facility
Nansemond Recharge Wells (On Site)
HRSD Capital Improvement Program Project (NP013820, GN016380 & GN016381)
Webpage Reviewed: March 10, 2026
HRSD, your regional wastewater treatment utility, is implementing the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT) Program by constructing the second SWIFT Facility at the Nansemond Treatment Plant to produce a highly-treated water (SWIFT Water®) that meets drinking water standards and is suitable for recharge of the Potomac Aquifer. This Program will help reverse declining groundwater levels, significantly reduce the amount of nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus entering the Chesapeake Bay, and may reduce saltwater intrusion and land subsidence, thereby helping to ensure HRSD’s ability to protect public health and the environment in alignment with HRSD’s Promise and Vision.
Advanced Nutrient Reduction Improvements (ANRI):
Construction for the Advanced Nutrient Reduction Improvements project is ongoing. The installation of conductors to all three new electrical buildings and new motor control centers continues. Rough-in of power and control raceways, wire pulling, and termination preparations continue for Primary Clarifier 5. Stress testing is continuing for Aeration Tank 6 with the newly installed design modifications. Primary gravity thickener mechanisms are being installed in both tanks.
SWIFT Facility:
The basin floors are being formed for the SWIFT Influent Pump Station and Recharge Well Backflush Equalization Tank. Pile driving for deep foundations for the SWIFT Facility site is ongoing and is expected to continue through May 2026. Pile driving hours will remain between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with Saturday pile driving hours being 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Preparation of the contractor's staging area, office complex, and access roads to the recharge wells on the SWIFT Facility site continues. Installation of SWIFT Water supply and backflush lines for Recharge Wells 4, 5, 6, and 7 continues. 24-hour drilling will occur at Well 10 during the month of March; the drilling is not expected to cause any excess noise other than a hum from a generator. Stormwater improvements continue for Pond 1 and Pond 2.
Together, the overall goal of the Nansemond projects is to help support growth and protect future generations. To learn more about SWIFT or to schedule a tour of the SWIFT Research Center (located at HRSD’s Nansemond Treatment Plant in Suffolk, VA), please visit www.hrsd.com/swift/.
Project Cost: Approximately $952,000,000
March 2, 2026
ANRI: Construction for the Advanced Nutrient Reduction Improvements project is ongoing. The installation of conductors to all three new electrical buildings and new motor control centers continues. Rough-in of power and control raceways, wire pulling, and termination preparations continue for Primary Clarifier 5. Stress testing is continuing for Aeration Tank 6 with the newly installed design modifications. Primary gravity thickener mechanisms are being installed in both tanks.
SWIFT: The basin floors are being formed for the SWIFT Influent Pump Station and Recharge Well Backflush Equalization Tank. Pile driving for deep foundations for the SWIFT Facility site is ongoing and is expected to continue through April 2026. Pile driving hours will remain between 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some Saturday (8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.) work as needed. Preparation of the contractor's staging area, office complex, and access roads to the recharge wells on the SWIFT Facility site continues. Installation of SWIFT Water supply and backflush lines for Recharge Wells 4, 5, 6, and 7 continues. Stormwater improvements continue for Pond 1 and Pond 2.
The work will be confined to HRSD property; however, construction traffic will be entering and exiting the site on Armstead Road. Most traffic impacts will begin at College Drive and Interstate 664 heading northwest along College Drive to Armstead Road and then following Armstead Road all the way to the treatment plant. Comprehensive traffic control plans will be implemented to minimize inconvenience.
Construction: Spring 2023 - Fall 2025
Design: Summer 2024 – Summer 2025
Construction: Fall 2025 – Spring 2029
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 complete, the projects at the Nansemond Treatment Plant will improve the existing plant effluent in addition to producing up to 34 million gallons per day of SWIFT water.
This program will help reverse declining groundwater levels, reduce saltwater intrusion, slow or reduce land subsidence, and 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.
Disruptions to traffic will be minimal, and in most cases, all lanes of traffic will be maintained. No detours are planned or anticipated, but flagging may be used to help direct traffic as needed. All aspects of the project work may be located within HRSD property. The only impacts to traffic will be due to construction equipment entering and leaving the Nansemond Treatment plant via College Drive, between Interstate 664 and Armstead Road, and Armstead Road from College Drive to the treatment plant.
Work will typically take place Monday through Friday during daylight hours (7 a.m. - 4 p.m.). However, there may be occasions when extended hours, work at night, or weekend work may be necessary.
There should not be any interruptions to the water or sewer service in the area.
The construction will not affect the existing pavement. All construction traffic will be permitted to travel on the public roadway.
Typical construction noises such as equipment engines, back-up alarms, materials being delivered, diesel generators, air compressors, sawing, and associated activities should be anticipated.
The contractor will have offices and tool storage facilities on site for the duration of construction. Equipment that is being installed as part of the work may be stored on the plant for short periods of time before it can be located in its permanent location. There will not be any materials or equipment stored in the public right-of way.
Construction workers will park in designated spaces within HRSD property. No personal or company vehicles will be permitted to park on public streets.
The estimated cost for the project is $952 million. The ANRI Facility is approximately $300 million, the SWIFT facility is approximately $570 million, and the recharge wells are approximately $82 million. These projects are financed at the low interest loans from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Funds and the wastewater treatment fees paid by HRSD customers.
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 when there are website updates. To learn more about SWIFT or to schedule a tour of the SWIFT Research Center (located at HRSD’s Nansemond Treatment Plant in Suffolk, VA), or take a virtual tour, please visit www.hrsd.com/swift.
The Managed Aquifer Recharge wells are necessary to convey SWIFT Water® to the Potomac Aquifer. There is a total of 19 wells required for conveyance, 11 of which are located on HRSD property and 8 within the adjacent community.
No. The drilling process used to make the borehole for the well uses fluids and is conducted at very low pressures and volumes. The fluids are used to cool the drill bit, help remove the soil cuttings, and keep the borehole open.
No. The well installation process is completely separate from your water and sewer service provided by the City of Suffolk.
No. Drilling is conducted using a rotary drill bit, similar to drilling into wood. The drill bit cuts the soil and removes it from the hole; there is no driving hammer used to advance the hole.
While standing close to the drill rig, the sound can be loud; however, the measurements of sound drop off relatively quickly with distance. At 75 feet from the site, the noise is below the sound of normal city traffic, and at 100 feet from the site, the noise is similar to normal conversation.
The well sites on HRSD property will be drilled on a 24-hour schedule to shorten the overall construction duration.
Drilling on a 24-hour schedule, well installation may take approximately 8 months per well. The entire project should be completed in mid-2028.
The wells will be installed to a total depth of approximately 1,200 feet below the ground surface, with some minor variation at each site. The wells will be designed to interact with the Potomac Aquifer, starting at approximately 400 feet below the ground surface and continuing to the bottom of each well.
Engineering Consultant Firm: Tetra Tech, Virginia Beach, VA
Engineering Consultant Project Lead: Tracy Lewis, PE
Contractor: Garney Construction, Inc. Virginia Beach, VA
Contractor Field Project Manager: Matt McKinnon
Engineering Consultant Firm: Tetra Tech, Inc. and Carollo Engineers, Inc.
Engineering Consultant Project Lead: Tracy Lewis, PE (Tetra Tech, Inc.)
Contractor: Garney Construction, Inc. Virginia Beach, VA
Contractor Pre-Construction Manager: Patrick Costello
Contractor Construction Manager: Matt McKinnon