Stantec, a worldwide frontrunner in sustainable engineering and design, is extending its collaboration with the City of Lynchburg, Virginia, to tackle combined sewer overflows (CSO) as climate change results in more severe rainfall and increased wet weather flow.
The firm is offering construction management, engineering services during the construction phase, and inspection services for a CSO storage tunnel equipped with a pump station. Construction on this project has recently commenced.
Upon completion, the $104 million CSO initiative, referred to as the Blackwater CSO Tunnel, will resolve a combined sewer capacity problem that has led to overflows into a local creek within a well-frequented city park.
With the implementation of the new storage tunnel and pump station, overflow will be redirected away from the park, resulting in reduced frequency and volume of discharges. The nearly one-mile-long CSO tunnel will feature a finished diameter of 12 feet and will be situated 70 to 120 feet underground in rock, offering roughly 4.7 million gallons of storage capacity.
Stantec finalized an expedited design for the tunnel and pump station in late 2023, having been chosen in 2022 for a master services agreement with the City.
This swift design process ensured adequate construction time to comply with the mandatory timeline of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding allocated for the project.
“We’re excited to continue our support for the City of Lynchburg in completing its CSO program,” stated Lin Liang, vice president and wet weather flow sector leader at Stantec.
“I take pride in our team’s ability to execute a fast-paced design project like this. It’s a complex endeavor that demands innovative thinking and expertise in deep rock tunnel and pump station design.”
Once finished, the tunnel will grant the City enhanced control over CSO, achieving a 98 percent reduction systemwide.
This improvement will greatly enhance water quality in local waterways and public health along the trail. Furthermore, the increased capacity will provide the City with the necessary infrastructure for future urban development and expansion.
“Stantec has been crucial in helping us conceptualize and design the largest infrastructure project in Lynchburg’s history on a tight schedule,” remarked Tim Mitchell, director of Lynchburg Water Resources.
“This project represents the culmination of over 40 years of efforts and more than $400 million in investments aimed at restoring water quality in Lynchburg’s streams and the James River. Once completed, only a few smaller CSO projects will remain. I value our partnership with Stantec in devising solutions for our CSO program.”
The Blackwater CSO Tunnel project is part of the City’s long-term control plan and consent order with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The City intends to utilize the ARPA grant alongside Virginia’s State Revolving Fund to fulfill its CSO Consent Order obligations within the next five years.
Source :Stantec
