A Collaborative Approach to Modeling the Hampton Roads Regional Wastewater Collection System

The Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) and 14 customer localities in the HRSD service area have completed an extensive effort to develop and calibrate a Regional Hydraulic Model (RHM) to quantify and assess the performance of the regional wastewater collection system. The commitment shared by HRSD and the localities to implement a truly collaborative approach is the single most important reason that the RHM calibration was a success. Their selected approach is a viable example for solving capacity issues in multi-jurisdictional wastewater collection systems. During the initial stages of the project it was tempting to select an approach that was primarily controlled by HRSD, the regional wastewater authority. However, rather than select the path of least resistance, HRSD and the localities committed themselves to a true partnership with shared technical contributions. This collaborative approach engaged stakeholders, elevated technical contributions, and created shared interests among the parties involved.