Richmond, VA - Building on the continued desire to strengthen resiliency in the region's water system, and ongoing conversations with local, regional, and state partners, Mayor Danny Avula has directed the formation of two strategic work groups focused on planning for a sustainable and resilient water future across the region. These efforts reflect Richmond's commitment to deep and thoughtful analysis and regional partnership to ensure long-term, reliable water infrastructure for the decades ahead.

The first work group, an internal team led by Chief Administrative Officer Odie Donald and Director of Public Utilities Scott Morris, will focus on scenario planning. This group will evaluate a range of long-term options, including capital investment needs, debt management strategies, and ratepayer impacts. External financial and rate consultants, including Davenport Financial Advisors and Raftelis, will be brought in as needed.

A second work group, a regional collaborative of water utility leaders and technical experts from the City of Richmond, Chesterfield County, Hanover County, and Henrico County, will focus on operational planning and coordination. The group will review proposed capital improvement plans, evaluate rate models, coordinate on potential state funding requests, and conduct joint tabletop exercises. It will also establish a consistent structure for Richmond's Department of Public Utilities to provide routine updates to regional partners. This work group builds on existing jurisdictional cooperation and is a continuation of shared efforts to strengthen the region's water infrastructure.

"These two work groups mark a critical step forward in building a stronger, more resilient water system for the region," said Mayor Danny Avula. "Just today, we saw that spirit of collaboration in action as Richmond provided additional water to our neighboring locality during their planned maintenance. That's what partnership looks like: clear communication, shared problem-solving, and mutual support. I'm excited for what's ahead."

Today, Richmond's Water Treatment Plant increased the volume of water supplied to Henrico County during maintenance at Henrico's own treatment facility. As an added safeguard, both jurisdictions confirmed their reservoirs and storage tanks were full, and the transition was closely monitored by system operators. The successful operation ensured uninterrupted service to customers in both localities.

"These work groups and real-time collaborations are exactly what it takes to meet the challenges of modern infrastructure," said Richmond Director of Public Utilities Scott Morris. "The ability to assist Henrico in this way underscores our capacity, but more importantly, it shows how jurisdictional coordination helps us all move forward with confidence."

Both groups have already met to get further direction and refine ongoing meeting cadence.