This project is a necessary part of Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT), which is an innovative program taking highly treated wastewater effluent that would otherwise be discharged to surface waters and providing additional rounds of advanced water treatment to produce SWIFT WaterTM which will meet drinking water quality standards. The physical limitations at the Boat Harbor Treatment Plant site prevent the ability to provide advanced water treatment at that location, so it is necessary to provide the advanced water treatment at the Nansemond Treatment Plant location. In addition, a financial analysis indicates there is significant long-term cost saving associated with consolidating wastewater treatment and SWIFT facilities at the Nansemond Treatment Plant.

This first part of the project consists of collecting soil samples from the bottom of the James River using a drill rig on a barge. The work is being coordinated with the Coast Guard and other groups that use the river, and this will have minimal impact to boat traffic. Safety measures and communication plans will be placed to ensure that the work is performed safely. 

The pipe will be buried in the sediment at the bottom of the river using two methods: horizontal directional drilling or trenching. Horizontal directional drilling uses a large drill to put the pipe in place without digging a trench. Trenching uses equipment on top of the water to dig a trench, set the pipe, and then fill the trench back in again. 

Generally, horizontal directional drilling is used in very deep sections of the river where there is a lot of room to set up the equipment, and trenching is used in shallower, more congested areas. But there are other considerations, such as the required slope of the pipe, other utilities, and permit requirements, that must be considered. An evaluation is currently being performed to determine which method will be used in each area. 

Horizontal directional drilling will have almost no impact on the environment or aquatic habitats. Almost all of the activity associated with horizontal directional drilling takes place deep in the sediments below the bottom of the river. There will be temporary work platforms set up in the river at the beginning and end of the drilled length. These platforms will be removed when the pipe is installed. Material removed by the drill will be collected and hauled off possibly for disposal or possibly for reuse.

Trenching involves excavating sediments at the bottom of the river and them putting the sediments back over the pipe. Efforts will be made to prevent the sediment spreading around the river. The impacts of the sediment removal and replacement from the trenching operation will not be much different from sediment movements that happen from current and wave action in the river.

The estimated cost for the project is $136 million and is financed by 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 whenever the website has an update about the project.