General Assembly Bills: Dams and Water Impoundments

General Assembly

“Concerning dams and water impoundment structures, the Senate has approved SB 582, which directs DCR to utilize storm-based approach to determine Probable Maximum Precipitation by December 15. The PMP is used to determine whether a dam is rated as high hazard, thus requiring spillway renovations to account for potential loss of life/property. By updating the PMP, it is anticipated that dam owners will have significant cost savings in spillway construction and remediation efforts. Under the bill, no dam renovations will be required until after the analysis is completed. In addition, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee will write a letter to DCR requesting it develop a funding plan for addressing costs of rehabilitating high hazard dams. The House counterpart, HB 1006 is in the House Appropriations Committee.”

~Writes David Blount TJPDC Legislative Liaison

Stafford dedicates largest public works project in its history

Stafford County:

“Northern Virginia’s newest lake started forming in Stafford County with the turning of the pumps to fill the Rocky Pen Run Reservoir on Tuesday morning. The lake is the largest public works project in county history. ‘Our population has more than doubled in the last 20 years and the number of businesses and employee base has risen as well,’ Stafford County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jack Cavalier, Griffis-Widewater District, said. ‘Rocky Pen Run’s 5.5-billion-gallon reservoir will allow us to meet the needs of both our private and corporate citizens for years to come.’

The new reservoir will serve customers in the southern and western portions of Stafford, but water can be pumped throughout the county based on need. Rocky Pen Run will join Abel Lake and Smith Lake in supplying water to county customers. The new reservoir will draw water from the Rappahannock River, doubling the safe yield capacity of the water supply system from what exists today. The new reservoir will also offer recreational opportunities, including fishing and non-motorized boating, such as kayaking.”

~Writes Shannon Howell of the Stafford County Sun

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Buena Vista's Dickinson Well Project

Central Shenandoah PDC

“Construction on Buena Vista's Dickinson Well began in December 2013, thanks to a $1 million Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) through the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development.  Dickinson Well, the City's largest well source, was declared to be under the influence of surface water in November 2009.  At that point, the City shut down the Dickinson Well system and began the process of obtaining professional engineering services to bring the facility in compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.  This meant that additional treatment of the water in the form of membrane filtration would have to be provided.  The CSPDC assisted the City in applying for and receiving CDBG funding and continues to provide grant administration services to Buena Vista for the project.  Dickinson Well is expected to be back online in the fall of this year.”

~Central Shenandoah PDC

Landfill gas to power three Lynchburg-area colleges

City of Lynchburg

“It’s an energy source that otherwise would be trashed, but five small Virginia colleges -- three in the Lynchburg area -- are taking advantage of it. It's landfill gas, the toxic methane that landfills routinely capture and flare off. Lynchburg College, Randolph College, Sweet Briar College, Emory & Henry and Hollins University have partnered with Collegiate Clean Energy, a business that is an affiliate of Ingenco, a landfill gas energy operator. The company captures methane off of the landfill and turns it into electricity, which is sold back to utilities.

In a practical sense, the changes at Emory & Henry will be as simple as switching from one electricity provider to another, through Appalachian Power, said Jesse Freedman, energy manager for the college. He said he expects the switch to happen within the next two months. The change will help reduce the college’s carbon footprint and will go a long way toward helping the college reach its carbon neutral goal, he added.”

~Writes Allie Robinson Gibson of the Bristol Herald Courier

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Sewer services coming to Gloucester Point neighborhoods

Gloucester County

“The cost of hooking up to county sewer lines extending into several Gloucester Point neighborhoods could run up to $6,500 per household for dozens of homeowners, according to county projections. But the county is pursuing grant funding to cover a portion of the cost to homeowners and would also offer interest-free financing for a period of five years for part of the fees.

The county is accepting bids from contractors to extend sewer services in two phases to homes in the Terrapin Cove Road area of Gloucester Point. Phase I of the project includes Laurel and Holly roads. Phase II includes Azalea Point, Berkeley, Hoven and Killdee roads. Cost estimates for the sewer extension projects run up to $430,000.”

~Writes Matt Sabo of the Daily Press

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Oceanfront street to undergo 3-year makeover

Virginia Beach

“Pacific Avenue at the Oceanfront is in store for a major makeover that is expected to take three years to complete. The $15 million project is expected to start this fall. Work includes the reconstruction of the southbound lanes from 15th Street to 23rd Street, new pavement heading northbound, new sidewalks and street lights, along with improvements to sewer, water and gas lines.

‘It's been in need of improvements for a long, long time,’ said George Smith, owner of Juice Box Surf Shop on Pacific Avenue. While he knows the project is important, Smith worries about his bottom line during construction.”

~Writes Philip Townsend of 13News Now

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Council Mulls Options for Water Sale Proceeds

City of Falls Church:

“Falls Church City Manager Wyatt Shields was slated to review a range of options for the use of net cash proceeds of about $14 million from the sale of the Falls Church Water System to the Fairfax Water Authority at a F.C. City Council work session Wednesday night, in advance of a Feb. 3 work session to which he’s invited professional consultants to ‘provide some independent suggestions on the use of the one-time proceeds from the sale.’

Options mulled so far have included investment in the City’s pension plan that could reduce the City’s annual required contribution by $980,000, use of the funds for ‘pay as you go’ to mitigate cost of capital improvement projects now on the drawing boards (such as a new high school), and the formation of an endowment that could generate $371,000 to $651,000 per year.”

~ Writes the Falls Church News-Press

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Decision on easement deferred

Town of Lawrenceville

“In response to concerns raised by citizens, the Brunswick County Board of Supervisors voted to defer action on a resolution to begin the process to acquire easements until they had a chance to talk with citizens. The supervisors held a public hearing on Monday, Jan. 6 to initiate condemnation proceedings to acquire property necessary for the water and sewer project along Route 58. The resolution authorizes the power of eminent domain for the acquisition of certain easements. The water and sewer lines will serve the Dominion Virginia Power project now under construction.”

~Writes Sylvia Allen of the Brunswick Times-Gazette

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Poquoson approves regional sewer rehab plan

City of Poquoson

“The city of Poquoson is one of the first localities in Hampton Roads to approve a plan that consolidates sewer improvement projects under one regional district. The city council unanimously entered into a memorandum of agreement, which must be approved by every municipality if it is to be implemented at all, with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District. This likely means higher rates for residents, but the hikes could be greater if the city decided to tackle the infrastructure work on its own, according to a note to the council from the city's engineer Ellen Roberts.

The hybrid plan leaves systems under local control while placing the burden of high-dollar repairs on the regional body. It is projected to save the region $1 billion throughout 30 years according to a consultant's study.”

~Writes the Ali Rockett of the Daily Press

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Fairfax Water to Supply City of Fairfax Residents

Fairfax County

“The City of Fairfax completed the sale of its water utility to Fairfax Water, beginning the process of merging these two water systems. ‘Fairfax Water is pleased to welcome the customers of the City of Fairfax service area to our family of 1.7 million Northern Virginians who receive water service from Fairfax Water. We look forward to continuing our history of providing exceptional service, quality, and reliability to our customers,’ said Philip W. Allin, Chairman of Fairfax Water.

In commenting on the transition Mayor Silverthorne said, ‘This is a win-win for all parties. City residents will continue to receive plentiful high-quality water plus lower rates for water in the future. In the final analysis, we had to give first consideration to an opportunity that would save our residents money in the near and long term.’

The City Council voted to sell the system in April 2013. In signing the final papers today, Fairfax Water purchased the City of Fairfax water system, transferred employment of the City’s water system employees to Fairfax Water, and guaranteed the reduction of water rates for the City of Fairfax water system customers to be equalized to the Fairfax Water rates within three years.”

~Writes The Connection

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