Edwards, Alan

Graduate of Old Dominion University, has been in the engineering field since 1986 when he got his first job as a draftsman. Has been with AECOM for10 years and is married, with 3 kids and 4 dachshund dogs.

Titles from this speaker

Description: E Pluribus Unum: HRSD Brings the Many Towns of Virginia's Eastern Shore Together...

E Pluribus Unum: HRSD Brings the Many Towns of Virginia's Eastern Shore Together with This Large Design-build Sewer Collection Project

Abstract

This presentation will describe the planning, design and construction of a complex design build sewer collection system in a rural portion of Virginia. This presentation will describe the early phase planning challenges such as gaining the participation of numerous small communities and the complex combination of funding sources used for this project. We will discuss the design build process and the many design and construction challenges we encountered. This presentation will be of value to engineers, contractors and municipalities alike.

SpeakerEdwards, Alan

Presentation time

09:30:00

10:00:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

SessionInnovative Project Delivery Methods

Session locationRoom S503 - Level 5

TopicCollection Systems, Intermediate Level

Author(s)

Edwards, Alan

Author(s)A. Edwards 1; P. Hubbard 2 ; A. Edwards 1;

Author affiliation(s)AECOM 1; Hampton Roads Sanitation District 2 ; AECOM 1;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825159061

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count21

E Pluribus Unum - HRSD Brings the Many Towns of Virginia's Eastern Shore together with this Large Design-Build Sewer Collection Project

Abstract

Many of the rural communities of Virginia's Eastern Shore have primarily utilized septic systems for their wastewater treatment needs. With the regions notoriously high water tables and corrosive soil conditions, these systems can leak and fail over time if not properly maintained. In order to prevent groundwater contamination and improve the regions wastewater treatment systems the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) has been working with the regions Counties and Towns since 2017 to create a regional small communities collection plan to improve wastewater collection and treatment. HRSD has begun the construction of its Eastern Shore Transmission Force Main Project, Phases I and II, which will be substantially completed in 2023. This is HRSD's very first project on the Eastern Shore and this extensive design-build construction project includes the installation of 27 miles of 4-inch through 12-inch sewer force mains and the construction of 5 new pump stations to convey flows from the Towns of Nassawadox, Accomac, Exmore, Onancock and Wachapreague to the Onancock Wastewater Treatment Plant. Due to the corrosive soils present throughout Eastern Virginia, HRSD is installing non-ferrous pipe for this entire system. The force main will be High Density polyethylene (HDPE) and the site piping at the numerous new pump stations will be Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipe. These facilities will greatly benefit the counties of Northampton and Accomack as well as the Towns of Nassawadox, Exmore, Melfa, Onley, Onancock, Accomac, and Wachapreague. The transmission force mains are primarily being placed within a repurposed Railway right-of-way (ROW) from Nassawadox to Accomac. The existing rails and wooden ties, along the railway, were removed and salvaged by Canonie Atlantic, the railway owners. The ballast from the tracks will become the base for a proposed 'Rails to Trails' bicycle trail Being implemented by VDOT, and will run from Cape Charles to near Parksley, VA. HRSD and the design build team have worked with the Railroad ROW owner to locate the force main and it's appurtenances outside of the bike path. The remainder of the project largely lies within Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) rights-of-way. The project includes 43 VDOT required trenchless crossings. These crossing includes 4 jack and bore crossings of the main regional artery (Route 13) and numerous horizontal direction drills under VDOT roadways and along VDOT Roadways to avoid any impacts to existing pavements. The project also included complex hydraulic system modeling, extensive detailed environmental and historical assessments, fast paced and supply chain agile material procurement and significant coordination between the numerous permitting agencies, multiple Counties and Towns through which the force main runs. This presentation will be of great interest to all small communities, rural counties, utility owners of any size and to any contractor or engineer interested in the design-build process and other alternative delivery projects in Virginia on in other rural communities.

This paper was presented at the WEF Collection Systems Conference, June 27-30, 2023.

SpeakerEdwards, Alan

Presentation time

16:15:00

16:45:00

Session time

15:45:00

16:45:00

SessionSession 14: Force Mains & Pump Stations

Session number14

Session locationKansas City Convention Center

TopicDesign & Construction, Intelligent/Smart Sewer Systems

Author(s)

Edwards, Alan

Author(s)P. Hubbard1; A. Edwards2;

Author affiliation(s)Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD)1; AECOM2;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Jun 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825158919

Volume / Issue

Content sourceCollections

Word count22

Virginia's Eastern Shore Sewer System Improvements - A small Communities Design-Build Project with Large Regional Impacts

Abstract

The rural communities and small towns of Virginia's Eastern Shore have traditionally utilized septic systems for their wastewater treatment needs. With the regions notoriously high water tables and corrosive soil conditions, these systems can often leak and fail over time. To limit groundwater contamination and improve the regions wastewater treatment systems, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) has recently completed a regional small community collection system on the Eastern Shore. This extensive design-build construction project included the installation of over 30 miles of 4-inch through 12-inch sewer force mains, over 50 horizontal directional drills (HDD), complex hydraulic modeling, construction of 5 new pump stations, modifications to 3 other stations and complex environmental / historical permitting and research. This project conveys sewer flows from numerous small towns to the regional HRSD Wastewater Treatment Plant, where the water will be properly treated with modern technology before being discharged to coastal waters. Through this project and other local efforts, the picturesque towns of Wachapreague, Onancock and Exmore have been updating their sewer systems from old septic tank technology to modern collection systems including hundreds of grinder pumps and low-pressure force mains. As most of the region still utilizes well water for their drinking water supply, this project not only will improve each resident's sewer treatment, it will improve drinking water quality by eliminating the risks and impacts of leaking septic systems. By improving coastal groundwaters and improving sewer treatment effluent, the project will have regional and even national impact through its positive effects to the regional coastal aquaculture and most importantly the world-famous Chesapeake Bay crab, oyster and clam populations. The coastal nature of this broad project made for some challenging engineering and construction. The water table was essentially at the ground surface which complicated excavation and pump station wet well designs. The regions narrow roadways are maintained by the Virgina Department of Transportation (VDOT) which required the collection system piping to be primarily installed via HDD. The area is also subject to regular hurricane and nor-easter flooding, which required significant flood protections and storm hardening for the new infrastructure. These new Eastern Shore facilities will greatly benefit the regions residents, tourists, farmers, fisherman and anyone in the County who enjoys its world-famous Chesapeake Bay crab cakes, steamed clams or oysters on the half shell. This presentation will be of great interest to all small communities, Coastal communities, rural Counties, utility owners of any size and any contractor or engineer interested in the design-build process and the complex coordination between stakeholders that such projects require.

This paper was presented at the WEF/WEAT Collection Systems and Stormwater Conference, July 15-18, 2025.

Presentation time

09:30:00

10:00:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

SessionCommunity Engagement during Construction

Session number23

Session locationGeorge R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, USA

TopicAlternative Delivery Systems (Design-Build-Operate-Transfer), Climate Change Adaptation, Coastal Systems

Author(s)