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ALEXANDRIA, Va. — AlexRenew's RiverRenew project, the largest infrastructure undertaking in Alexandria's history, has entered its final phase of construction and remains on track to become fully operational by July 1, the utility said in an update this week.
Crews have spent recent months installing and testing equipment in a new 12-story underground pumping station, AlexRenew said. This spring, the utility tested the tunnel dewatering pumps, which can move 20 million gallons and will lift water from the new Waterfront Tunnel more than 130 feet to the surface, as well as four wet-weather pumps each capable of moving up to 45 million gallons of water a day.
The project is designed to address a problem rooted in Alexandria's 19th-century sewer system. In the oldest parts of the city, a single network of pipes carries both sewage and stormwater, and heavy rain can overwhelm it, sending a mix of untreated sewage and rainwater into the Potomac River and its tributaries. The new Waterfront Tunnel and Hooffs Run Interceptor are built to capture those combined flows and route them to AlexRenew's treatment facility instead. The utility says the system will cut combined sewer overflows by about 124 million gallons a year.
RiverRenew began in response to a 2017 state law requiring Alexandria to remediate its combined sewer outfalls by July 1, 2026. AlexRenew, the wastewater authority for the city and parts of Fairfax County, has called the work a historic step for local waterways and public health.
Separately, AlexRenew said it will inspect its interceptor pipes from June through September to monitor the condition of its infrastructure. The inspections will take place on weekdays during business hours, using robotic equipment to collect video, sonar and lidar data, mostly from existing manholes. The utility said the work should cause minimal disruption, though there may be minor traffic and pedestrian impacts in some areas along the routes.
The AlexRenew board is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 16, at 1800 Limerick St., with a live broadcast available on Microsoft Teams. Residents who need help with their bills can find payment plans and emergency credit information through the utility. Questions about the inspections can be directed to communications@alexrenew.com.
