National Water Research Institute Convenes Independent Advisory Panel to Review HRSD’s Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT)

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SUFFOLK – An independent advisory panel convened by the National Water Research Institute (NWRI), held its first meeting today in Hampton Roads to begin their review of HRSD’s Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT). The panel spent the day with HRSD staff, HRSD consultants and representatives from the Virginia Department of Health to review the overall initiative and data obtained through water treatment piloting and groundwater modeling since HRSD began work on SWIFT.

The panel’s overarching goal is to ensure public health is protected. The panel will provide guidance and advice through review of the overall initiative. The final report will include findings and recommendations based on consensus of the panel members.

The panelists bring national expertise in several areas critical to SWIFT, including wastewater treatment, chemistry, reclaimed water, environmental health microbiology and virology, hydrology and groundwater resources. The panel is chaired by Glen T. Daigger, Ph.D., P.E, BCEE, NAE, Professor of Civil Engineering and Environmental Engineering, University of Michigan. Members include Diana S. Aga, Ph.D., Professor of Chemistry, University of Buffalo; Thomas J. Grizzard, Jr., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Virginia Tech; Mark D. Sobsey, Ph.D., Kenan Distinguished Professor, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, UNC Chapel Hill; Thomas Missimer, Ph.D., P.G., President, Missimer Hydrological Services, Inc., and Visiting Professor, Florida Gulf Coast University; R. Shane Trussell, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, President, Trussell Technologies, Inc.; Mark A. Widdowson, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Tech.

“While there are many water reuse projects in use and others being pursued across the country, most are driven by water scarcity. The panel is particularly excited to be reviewing SWIFT as the drivers and potential multiple benefits of this initiative are unique and have the potential to focus the industry on pursuit of initiatives that solve multiple environmental and public health challenges,” said Daigger as he introduced the panel at the HRSD Nansemond Treatment Plant in Suffolk on Thursday.

About the Project: SWIFT is a water purification project in eastern Virginia that seeks to ensure a sustainable source of groundwater to meet current and future needs in the region. The project will take HRSD’s already highly treated water that would otherwise be discharged into the Elizabeth, James or York rivers and purify it through additional rounds of advanced water treatment to produce drinking-quality water. The purified water will then be treated to match the existing groundwater chemistry and added to the Potomac Aquifer, the primary source of groundwater throughout eastern Virginia. This will ensure a sustainable source of groundwater while addressing environmental challenges such as Chesapeake Bay restoration, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion.

About NWRI: The National Water Research Institute is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 1991 by a group of California water agencies in partnership with the Joan Irvine Smith and Athalie R. Clarke Foundation to promote the protection, maintenance and restoration of water supplies and to protect public health and improve the environment.

About HRSD: HRSD’s mission is to protect public health and the waters of Hampton Roads by treating wastewater effectively. A political subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia, HRSD was created by public referendum in 1940 and currently serves 18 cities and counties in southeast Virginia, an area with a population of 1.7 million.

HRSD Vision: Future Generations will inherit clean waterways and be able to keep them clean.

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Media Contact:

Leila Rice, APR – 757.460.7056
Director of Communications
lrice@hrsd.com