Second Informational Open House Scheduled to Share James River Plant Expansion Plans

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HRSD to provide an additional opportunity for residents to learn more about the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT)

 

NEWPORT NEWS – For residents who missed the first open house, HRSD is hosting a second informational open house on Thursday, January 9, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to share details about upcoming plant expansion that will bring SWIFT, Advanced Water Treatment and aquifer replenishment to the James River Plant. The information that will be shared will be the same as previously provided during the December 7 open house.

The plant is located at 111 City Farm Road, Newport News, Virginia 23602.

While there, visitors can:

  • Learn more about the wastewater treatment process
  • See preliminary expansion design plans and speak with project engineers
  • Learn about the many environmental benefits of SWIFT and aquifer replenishment
  • Ask questions and provide feedback
  • Sample drinking-water quality SWIFT Water

SWIFT is an innovative water treatment project designed to ensure a sustainable source of groundwater to meet current and future needs in the region. The project takes HRSD's already highly treated water that would otherwise be discharged into the Elizabeth, James or York rivers and puts it through additional rounds of advanced water treatment to produce drinking quality SWIFT Water. The SWIFT Water is then treated to match the existing groundwater chemistry and added to the Potomac Aquifer, the primary source of groundwater throughout eastern Virginia.

The SWIFT Research Center in Suffolk, Virginia, currently adds one million gallons of SWIFT Water to the Potomac Aquifer daily. Once fully implemented SWIFT will replenish the aquifer with up to 100 million gallons of water daily, ensuring a sustainable source of groundwater while also addressing environmental challenges such as Chesapeake Bay restoration, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion.

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.

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Should you have any questions or comments, you may contact:

Media Contact

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