Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do Wastewater Projects Cost So Much?
Many of our nation's wastewater treatment plants were constructed in the 1950s as society realized the negative impact of dumping raw sewage and industrial discharges directly in waterways. Public concern ultimately grew into the passage of the Clean Water Act in 1972. Over the years, regulations have been refined and increased through research and environmental lobbying efforts requiring wastewater plants to remove more and more pollution. The level of pollution removal is now dictated through discharge permits either administered by the state or the federal Environmental Protection Agency.
While removing more pollution from water is a good thing, higher standards also cause the cost of building, operating and maintaining a treatment plant to increase exponentially. The only current funding mechanism available to wastewater treatment facilities to pay for required improvements and treatment costs are the rates that are charged to the customers.
Why was the Wet Weather Project initiated?
The project was required by agreement with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to address overflows experienced during wet weather events. This project was intended to accomplish several objectives including the replacement and/or rehabilitation of existing infrastructure, the addition of long-term capacity (moving the plant from 42 million gallons per day to 55 million gallons per day) and improvements to the facility to permit better handling of wet weather high flows. These items are interconnected, so it is not possible to complete one element and defer others to save costs.
Did the Wet Weather Project eliminate all plant overflows?
The improvements will allow the facility to manage typical wet weather flows much more efficiently without an overflow. This project will compliment other infrastructure at the plant, such as a 30-million gallon equalization basin, which helps contain flow that exceeds the facility's treatment capacity. The project will not eliminate the potential for plant overflows during extraordinary rain events, but it will allow for a significant reduction in the total number of overflows associated with these events.
Wasn't the WPCP already upgraded in the 1990's?
The primary improvements in the late 1990s involved the upgrade of the major interceptor lines serving the Roanoke Valley. The plant also benefited from a $20 million dollar investment. This investment increased the permitted capacity of the plant by 7-million gallons per day. The single largest improvement gained in the last expansion was the significant increase in the interceptor capacity which helped significantly reduce overflows in the collection system.
Did the project increase plant capacity for future growth?
Yes. The current permitted capacity for the facility is 42-million gallons per day. The intent of this project is to result in a permitted discharge capacity of at least 55-million gallons per day of treated discharge.
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