This morning, Alexandria Renew Enterprises (AlexRenew), Alexandria’s wastewater treatment provider, celebrated the groundbreaking of a major initiative to control millions of gallons of raw sewage polluting the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay. Currently, the outdated combined sewer system in Alexandria discharges about 140 million gallons of untreated sewage into waterways each year during rains. Once completed, the RiverRenew project will capture and treat the vast majority of this sewage before it pollutes waterways.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Virginia Executive Director Peggy Sanner issued this statement.
“Despite the challenges of a major infrastructure project in historic Old Town, AlexRenew is taking aggressive steps to prevent sewage overflows and reduce nitrogen and phosphorus pollution from Alexandria’s combined sewer system. The Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay will be cleaner and healthier as a result of AlexRenew’s leadership in using advanced technologies and smart engineering to help significantly reduce pollution.
“This major step forward would not have been possible without the commitment of AlexRenew and the support of legislators in Virginia’s General Assembly, including the bipartisan leadership of Virginia Senators Richard Stuart and Scott Surovell.”
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