HRSD is undertaking a project to rehabilitate and/or replace portions of the sanitary sewer system in the South Norfolk area of Chesapeake and Norfolk. Please see the Roads Affected section of this webpage for specific roads that will be impacted. This effort will improve performance and reliability within HRSD’s sanitary sewer system.

Most of the work will involve Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP) rehabilitation of the existing sewer pipe and manholes. Little to no digging is involved in this process, making it potentially more cost-effective and less disruptive than traditional "dig and replace" pipe repair methods. CIPP is a jointless, seamless, "pipe-within-a-pipe” process. A bypass piping system will be in place to ensure that sewer service is not interrupted.

The remainder of the new sewer pipe and manholes will be installed in a trench, meaning pavement cutting and excavation will be necessary. Pavement restoration of the roadways affected by installation of the sewer pipe will occur once the sewer installation is complete. The existing sewer pipe will not be needed once the new sewer pipe is installed; it will be abandoned in place without disturbing the ground above.

To see which sections of pipe will be rehabilitated and which will be newly installed, please see the maps in the Project map section of this webpage.

What happens during the CIPP process?

The sewer must first be prepared for lining; this includes cleaning the line, removing roots, sediment and grease from the sewer (public and/or private lines) and cutting out intruding connections. The sewer lines and manholes are inspected using closed circuit television (CCTV). Like many types of pipe renewal/replacement, CIPP requires bypass pumping, which re-routes sewer flow around the section of pipe being rehabilitated. This ensures your sewer service is not interrupted. The lining process involves the insertion of a resin-saturated flexible lining into an existing sewer pipe using the manholes located within the street. The lining looks like a very large sock or flexible tube. Either air or water, under pressure, is forced into the tube, which turns the lining inside out and causes it to expand to fit tightly against the existing sewer walls. Hot air or water is circulated throughout the tube to harden the resin. When the curing process is completed (4-8 hours), a new “pipe-within-a-pipe” has been created, eliminating cracks and holes that allow rainwater and roots to enter the sewer and cause operational problems such as stoppages and overflows.

Why is bypass piping and pumping needed?

The sewer system carries wastewater from homes and businesses through pipes to a treatment plant. When sewage pump stations or pipelines require upgrades or replacement, a temporary bypass pumping solution is needed to maintain your sewer service while the existing service is being worked on. These bypass systems ensure that the sewer system remains operational by using a temporary line and pump setup to continue conveying flows away.

How does bypass piping and pumping work?

Because the flow of sewage cannot simply be diverted and service cannot be stopped, it must be “bypassed”—or temporarily pumped around the pipe being repaired or replaced. To do this, pumps capable of pumping all of the wastewater from homes and businesses are brought in, as well as pipes that collects and conveys the flow, on site to continue sewer service.

To see pictures of what the CIPP and bypass system look like, please see the CIPP & Bypass System Fact Sheet.

Project Cost: $9.7 Million