Percy C. Ashcraft

Our region, particularly those movers and shakers within it, have many discussions regarding subjects that will directly affect our future.

Among those topics you hear frequently are:

-Base-closing conversation at the federal level that could trickle down to include Fort Lee. 

-Economic development and what business, industry, retail and professional companies might hang their shingles and create jobs for the next generation of local young people graduating from high school and college.

-The emphasis on public safety and making sure our police, fire and emergency responders have the best tools to both prepare and react to any critical situation.

-The ongoing debate on educating our young people in grades pre-K through 12 and whether the Standards of Learning is on its way out or should it be improved upon.

-The condition of our roads and bridges and the pressure put on VDOT to try to do more for localities with less money.

All of these conversations are vitally important and should be on the agendas of every governing body and planning agency in the Tri-Cities region.  However, one subject that appears to be taken for granted and not getting enough attention is the future of water and wastewater within the Tri-Cities region and the responsible authorities that serve most of the localities.

The Appomattox River Water & South Central Wastewater authorities were created some 40 years ago to provide water and wastewater services to all localities in the Tri-Cities, except the City of Hopewell.  Over that time, the localities have been well served and the cost of water and wastewater services has remained stable considering the rising cost of other utilities such as electric, gas and cable.

I was elected by my peers to chair both authorities in January of this year, and it has given me keen insight to all the issues facing the region in water and wastewater.  Almost every month, the voting members of the authority have grappled with major issues that could have a dramatic effect on every locality belonging to the authorities, which includes Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Colonial Heights, Petersburg and Prince George.

A professional staff is in place to administer the day-to-day services to the localities.  It keeps a watchful eye on drought like conditions that might come up, and also major capital upgrades that need to be made.

So if people can turn on their water taps and get a glass of water, and flush their toilets, then what is there to talk about at the meeting tables of major policy makers in the region?

I suggest, plenty?

First, the voting members of the ARWA and SCWWA are appointed members by the localities, which at the present are city managers and county administrators from the five localities.  Some very complicated issues have been before this group of men and women for at least three years now, and up to the last meeting held September 21, no solutions or answers have unfolded.

The major issues include:

-Changes in the service agreement for ARWA that would define what each member locality owns in terms of capacity and enable them to buy and sell that capacity among themselves.

-Raising of the Brasfield Dam that will not only increase height, but provide additional storage volume and an increase in pool level.  How to spend a $5 million grant from the State Legislature is tied to this project and a deadline of July 1, 2018 looming.

-Financing critical ‘in-plant’ projects that will replace aging infrastructure and provide SCWA with modern operations for years to come.

-Getting water to customers at the furthest end of the delivery system that would require the construction of an additional treatment plant at Brander’s Bridge.

-Implementing a new storage management plan and looking 30 years down the road at additional opportunities.

The authorities are also waiting on a consultant’s report that will define an assessment of value and also point out possible changes in governance and ownership that would effect operations in the future.

Providing long-term stability for utilities is important to all localities. The presence of water and sewer creates economic development opportunities, as well as new housing.  The tri-cities region needs a comprehensive plan for utilities that can assist ARWA & SCWWA voting members as a reminder of what is good for the region and not just for our individual localities.

The ARWA & SCWWA boards have directed staff to reach out to the Crater Regional Planning and Virginia’s Gateway Region staffs to start more regular and intense dialogues on the subject of water and wastewater.  It is time this subject takes its place on future agendas and that elected officials from each locality provide their input.

The longer we wait, the greater the risk of falling behind in planning for this critical piece of our quality of life.  Clean water and wastewater disposal effects us all.