Public Meeting Notice - October 20, 2021
HRSD's Approach to Managing PFAS
What are PFAS?
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly called PFAS, are man-made compounds that can be found in a variety of household and commercial items. Research surrounding human health impacts, accurate measurements of PFAS, and available treatment technologies is still emerging. HRSD has a multi-faceted approach to managing PFAS that is centered around reducing sources of PFAS to our treatment plants, implementing technologies that can remove PFAS from SWIFT water, and fostering PFAS research.
PFAS have been in use since the 1940s and are found in a wide range of products used by consumers because they are resistant to heat, water, and oils (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Products potentially containing PFAS
Source Control
Learn more about how HRSD works with local industries to minimize PFAS sources to our treatment plants.
Treatment Technologies
Learn more about how PFAS are removed from SWIFT Water™.
Research
Learn more about the wastewater, water reuse, and biosolids research being conducted at HRSD.
What Can You Do?
Learn more about what you can do to help reduce your PFAS footprint.
PFAS FAQs
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PFAS do not occur in nature and may take years to break down in the natural environment. PFAS are often called “forever chemicals,” because the carbon-fluorine bond, the backbone of PFAS, is one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. The human health concerns associated with PFAS include bioaccumulation, liver toxicity, cancer, pregnancy complications, endocrine disorders, and reduced immune response.
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Wastewater treatment plants are not original sources of PFAS but receivers of these chemicals used by manufacturers and consumers. There are currently no cost-effective options for removing PFAS from wastewater. The best way to eliminate PFAS from wastewater is to prevent it from entering the wastewater stream altogether. This is achievable through source reduction and elimination of the waste streams from potential PFAS sources (Table 1).
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- Water supply intakes located downstream of PFAS-containing discharge
- Industrial wastewaters from electroplating and metal finishing facilities, plastic and coating manufacturing, semiconductor and photolithography, and oil refineries and railyards.
- Leachate for treatment from landfills
- Firefighting foam entering the sanitary sewer
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The most efficient and effective way to reduce and eliminate PFAS in the waste stream is for the producers to manufacture products responsibly, demonstrating good environmental stewardship.
To find out more about how HRSD’s Pretreatment Program encourages environmental stewardship, see our Pollution Prevention Page.
To learn more about how you can reduce your PFAS footprint, see What Can You Do.
To learn more about PFAS research at HRSD, see HRSD PFAS Research.
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There are over 5,000 PFAS in existence, but only a small number are analyzed in environmental laboratories. The two most common PFAS to be analyzed are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which were historically common in many everyday household products. The structure of these PFAS, including the length of the carbon chain and the attached functional group, help us better understand environmental impacts and treatment options. In Figure 2, the PFOA is the shorter carbon chain, and has an attached carboxylate group, while the PFOS carbon chain is longer, and has a sulfonate group attached.
Figure 2:
For more information about PFAS analytical methods, see PFAS Analysis page.
Notice to Mariners - October 7, 2021
GET Solutions, Inc., on behalf AECOM and Hampton Road Sanitation District (HRSD) will perform a soil boring exploration within the James River and the Newport News Federal Navigation Channel beginning as early as October 18th and lasting until mid-November. These borings will be used to assist project staff to make design decisions for the design of the Boat Harbor Underwater Transmission Pipe.
Traffic Advisory - September 29, 2021
Detour Required for motorists accessing Kenny Lane
Traffic Advisory - October 1, 2021
Newport News – Motorists are advised that HRSD crews will be performing sanitary sewer maintenance work on Lucas Creek Road where it intersects with Colony Road. During the maintenance work, motorists utilizing Lucas Creek Road can follow a signed detour as indicated in green on the map below. Motorists utilizing Colony Road can follow a signed detour as indicated in blue on the map below. The detour is scheduled to begin the week of October 4th and is expected to remain in place for several days.
Construction Notice #1 for the City of Chesapeake - September 2021
--Work to Begin--
HRSD, your regional wastewater treatment utility, will begin work to install a new sanitary sewer air vent at the intersection of Western Branch Boulevard and Kenny Lane. Access to Kenny Lane from Western Branch Boulevard will be blocked, and a signed detour will be in place. This work should take place primarily between the hours of 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday – Friday.
Traffic Advisory - September 27, 2021
Newport News – Motorists are advised that HRSD crews will be performing sanitary sewer maintenance work on Lucas Creek Road between Nottingham Trail and Eastwood Drive. During the maintenance work, motorists can follow a signed detour using Eastwood Drive, Brookfield Drive, Dellwood Drive, and Nottingham Trail as indicated on the map below. The detour is scheduled to begin September 28th and is expected to remain in place for several days.
Construction Notice #18 for the City of Virginia Beach - September 2021
--Utility Work at Chesopeian Colony entrance--
Construction Notice #17 for the City of Virginia Beach - September 2021
--Pavement Restoration along Eureka Avenue--
HRSD, your regional wastewater treatment utility, continues work in your area. The Virginia Beach Boulevard Sanitary Sewer Pipeline Improvement project to replace the existing 24-inch sewer pipeline with a larger 42-inch pipeline is nearing completion and final pavement restoration will be taking place soon. The work in your area should take place primarily between the hours of 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Virtual Presentation Notice - September 2021