Hampton Roads Sanitation District
Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) is a water and wastewater treatment utility that pledges to protect public health and waters in Hampton Roads. The utility is also mindful of future generations that will depend the waterways we use today, and thus strives to operate in a way that protects the environment, customers, and employees.
In some parts of eastern Virginia, land subsidence, in conjunction with sea level rise, is a problem that leads to flooded neighborhoods and vulnerable communities. Unfortunately, Hampton Roads is also the second largest population at risk of the effects of sea level rise. Land subsidence is, in part, attributed to overdrawing groundwater aquifers. HRSD is addressing this by using highly treated wastewater to replenish the aquifers with up to 120 million gallons of water a day. This will ultimately keep about 90 percent of HRSD’s wastewater discharge out of the Elizabeth, James and York rivers, which also reduces the total amount of phosphorous and nitrogen that ultimately end up in the Chesapeake Bay. This project improves water quality, helps communities adapt to sea level rise, and thus contributes to the overall resiliency of the region.
HRSD is also participating in Imagine a Day Without Water, an event that seeks to bring together many different stakeholders from all over the country who are interested in finding solutions for safe, affordable, and reliable water service, as well as discussing the state of our aging infrastructure that is in need of repair. HRSD is addressing this issue in Virginia through maintenance and repairs that are paid for by each customer’s monthly water and sewer bills. These are investments that support businesses, workers, and families right in Hampton County, as HRSD employs local contractors and suppliers. This keeps dollars earned within the local economy to benefit the entire Hampton County community.