The City’s combined sewer system dates back to the 1800s and comprises approximately 540 acres located in the Old Town area. During most wet weather events, combined sewage (mixture of wastewater and stormwater runoff) discharges through one of four combined sewer outfalls into receiving waterways. In April 2017, the Virginia General Assembly passed a new law requiring the remediation of these outfalls by July 1, 2025. The City, working with Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew), submitted a Long Term Control Plan (Plan) to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (VDEQ) in 2018. This Plan calls for the construction of an underground tunnel system to bring combined sewage to the AlexRenew wastewater treatment facility, thus significantly reducing both the number and volume of combined sewer discharges into City waterways. As of July 1, 2018, VDEQ has approved the Plan and the City has transferred ownership of the combined sewer outfalls to AlexRenew. AlexRenew is implementing the Plan as part of its RiverRenew Program.

With construction set to begin at the four combined sewer outfalls later this year, AlexRenew is conducting Community Listening Sessions to share the most up-to-date information about RiverRenew. For more information regarding the Community Listening Sessions, please click here.

To find out more information about the RiverRenew program, please click here.