Stantec manages $104 million Blackwater sewer overflow tunnel in Lynchburg, Va.
(UI) — Stantec is continuing its partnership with the city of Lynchburg, Virginia, to reduce combined sewer overflows (CSO) as climate change causes more intense rain events.
The firm is providing construction management, engineering services during construction, and inspection services for a CSO storage tunnel with a pump station. Construction on the project began recently.
The $104 million Blackwater CSO Tunnel project aims to address combined sewer capacity issues that have caused overflow into a local creek in a popular city park. The nearly mile-long tunnel will have a diameter of 12 feet and will be located 70 to 120 feet below ground, providing about 4.7 million gallons of storage capacity. The new tunnel and pump station will move overflow outside the park with less discharge frequency and volume.
Stantec completed the design for the tunnel and pump station in late 2023, after being selected in 2022 for a master services agreement with the City. The expedited design allowed enough construction time to meet the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funding schedule.
“We’re eager to continue supporting the City of Lynchburg to complete its CSO program,” said Lin Liang, vice president and wet weather flow sector leader at Stantec. “I’m proud of our team’s capability to deliver a fast-paced design project like this. This is a complex project that requires creative thinking and ideas as well as industry-leading experience in deep rock tunnel and pump station design.”
Once completed, the tunnel will provide Lynchburg with a high level of control for CSO, achieving 98% reduction systemwide. This will significantly improve water quality in local waterways and public health along the trail. Additionally, the capacity improvement will support future urban development and growth.
“Stantec has played an essential role in helping us conceptualize and design the largest infrastructure project in Lynchburg’s history on an expedited schedule,” said Tim Mitchell, director of Lynchburg Water Resources. “This project is the culmination of over four decades of work and over $400 million in total investment to restore water quality in the streams in Lynchburg and the James River. Upon its completion, only a few relatively small CSO projects will remain. I appreciate the partnership with Stantec to develop solutions for our CSO program.”
The Blackwater CSO Tunnel project is part of Lynchburg’s long-term control plan and consent order with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The City plans to use the ARPA grant and Virginia’s State Revolving Fund to meet its CSO Consent Order requirements within the next five years.
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