The City of Richmond greatly values the James River as its sole source of finished drinking water and is also very cognizant of its beloved home for recreation and beautiful aquatic life.  Over the years, the City’s commitment and work along with that of its partners has vastly improved the quality of the river with greater access to all visitors.  The Pipeline Trail, which is suspended above the James River, is the catwalk built when part of the City’s Combined Sewer System (CSS) pipe was installed nearly 50 years ago.

These Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) are a means to keep the public informed about current events involving the modified access to the Pipeline.

1. Who is responsible for maintaining the Pipeline?

There are many stakeholders. CSX owns the railway, while the City of Richmond has multiple departments with a vested interest.  The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is responsible for maintaining the 42” sewer pipe.  The Department of Parks & Recreation (PRCF) manages all parks within the City, including the James River System.  From a city maintenance and operation perspective, the Pipeline is not within the James River Park System or trail area and therefore not maintained by PRCF.

Short- and long-term decisions about the comprised sewer pipe on the trail will include these and other stakeholders.

2. Who has the authority to limit access to the Pipeline?

Please see response #1 above.  Stakeholders are working together collaboratively.

3. Are the sewer repairs complete? And if so, why is the Pipeline closed to the public?

From a safety perspective, the area of pipe that leaked in July 2024 remains closed to the public.  The long-term plan for the compromised sewer pipe is under development by engineers.  DPU is working closely with Parks & Recreation, CSX and the City of Richmond Risk Management on the variables involved.  For this reason, the City strongly encourages the public to remain off the Pipeline while engineers focus on the long-term solution.

4. If the sewer repairs are complete, when will the large straps be removed from the sewer pipe?

While the sewer pipe is empty, abandoned, and isolated from any active CSS infrastructure, it is still compromised.  A fence has been resurrected to protect a portion of the sewer pipe, which is referred to as “the work zone”.  The goal of the fence is to avoid tampering with the existing straps, eliminate foot traffic and minimize safety concerns on this portion of the Pipeline.

5. How does this sewer pipe impact water quality for the James River?

The Pipeline is part of the City’s CSS and is a combined pipe that carries both sewer and stormwater. Any damage to or malfunction of the pipe could cause leaks, which is what occurred this summer.  It is important to note that this part of the City’s infrastructure is not included in the requirements for Senate Bill 1064, which requires the City to accelerate its work on reducing combined sewer overflows.

Senate Bill 1064 involves three specific phases to help reduce CSO overflows by 2035.

• Phase 1 – Interim Plan involving 10 projects with completion by July 1, 2027
• Phase 2 – Final Plan involving 4 projects with completion by July 1, 2035
• Phase 3 – Green Infrastructure (ongoing)

6. If the Pipeline is not included in the SB 1064 regulation, what caused the recent leaks in July 2024?

There were two separate events that occurred in July 2024:

1. On July 2, DPU reported a CSS weather event to Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) as required by the City’s VPDES permit.
2. On July 15, the bypass pump, which carries flow away from the existing pipe, went offline, causing the sewer pipe to expand and overflow into the James River.

7. Is the Pipeline safe to visit?

No.  When river levels are low, the pipeline can easily be seen. The opposite occurs when the river levels are high – the pipeline is submerged beneath the fast-flowing river, making it unsafe to traverse.  Additionally, the portion of the sewer pipe located in the work zone remains compromised. DPU continues to perform regular monitoring of the pipe while engineering solutions are under review.

8. When will the public learn more about the long-term engineering design?

DPU is currently working with the engineering firm to assess both the short- and long-term needs.  DPU is committed to providing regular updates to the public via our website at www.rva.gov/public-utilities 

9. When will the public learn more about the long-term status of the Pipeline?

All stakeholders recognize the public’s interest for recreational access to this portion of the James River, which is why the decision for the long-term status will not be made lightly. This will be a shared decision amongst several stakeholders and will need to include the review and potential revision of easements, access and ownership.  In the meantime, City Councilmembers will continue to receive regular updates.

10. As a river enthusiast, are there other locations where I can access the James River?

Yes. The James River can still be accessed at locations such as Pony Pasture, Reedy Creek, Ancarrows Landing, the Wetlands, Great Shiplock Park, Belle Isle, Dock Street and Tredegar Put In.  There are also overlooks on the floodwall, which lead to both banks of the river for viewing points in addition to the access points listed above. 

Posted September 13, 2024

The City of Richmond greatly values the James River as its sole source of finished drinking water and is also very cognizant of its beloved home for recreation and beautiful aquatic life. Over the years the City’s commitment and work, along with that of its partners has vastly improved the quality of the river as well as provided greater access to all visitors – including the Pipeline Trail (which was created when the combined sewer/stormwater pipe was installed nearly 50 years ago and suspended above the river).

The heightened focus on the pipeline due to recent repairs has highlighted ongoing safety concerns, which resulted in a temporary closure near the now abandoned section of pipe on the trail. There have been a number of documented safety hazards.

As the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities focuses on the long-term solution of the combined sewer pipe with the catwalk (i.e. that has become known as the Pipeline Trail), ongoing access to this aging infrastructure will be required. Therefore, the portion of the trail that is the abandoned pipe will remain closed to the public to ensure the safety of all. The City strongly cautions against any rivergoers from traveling to the “beach” area near the pipe as safety hazards exist. The City of Richmond realizes a number of visitors access the river at this point. The James River can still be accessed at locations such as Pony Pasture, Reedy Creek, Ancarrows Landing, the Wetlands, Great Shiplock Park, Belle Isle, Dock Street or Tredegar Put-In.

The City of Richmond’s Final Plan to improve the health of the James River was approved by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) in August 2024. The James River ranks high as one of the state’s greatest natural resources. Less than a half century ago, the river was not fit for human use. With the long and sustaining work of the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) and its many partners, the James River has transformed from one of the most polluted in the country to one of the most improved and beloved. Today, the James River contributes greatly to the recreational and economic development needs of the region.

In the 1800s, parts of Richmond’s sewer system were designed as a combined sewer system (CSS). These pipes were made to transport both wastewater and stormwater. Today, more than one hundred fifty years later, these pipes are still in use. As a result, the CSS can become overwhelmed during wet weather conditions and exceed capacity for treatment, with overflow going into the waterways – including the James River. Richmond’s combined sewer system is the largest in Virginia with a drainage area of 19 square miles with 25 outfalls.

Since 1970, Richmond and the Commonwealth of Virginia have invested more than $780 million for projects to address the CSS and provide cleaner water for our community. These efforts have resulted in the reduction of over 3 billion gallons of combined sewer overflow (CSO) per year but more funding is needed to capture, convey and treat up to 5 billion gallons per year – which represents more than 90% of stormwater.

In 2020, the Virginia General Assembly passed Senate Bill 1064, which required the City to develop Interim and Final Plans, which would further improve water quality in the James River.  DEQ and the City then amended the 2005 Special Order by Consent to incorporate Senate Bill 1064.

• Interim Plan – Submitted on time and includes 10 projects to reduce 182 million gallons of CSO volume per year at a cost of $33.3 million.  These projects were approved by DEQ for completion of construction and related activities due by July 1, 2027.

• Final Plan– Re-evaluate the remaining 2005 Special Order by Consent projects and identify system-wide improvements to incorporate Senate Bill 1064.  According to DEQ, Richmond made a timely submission of the Final Plan by July 1, 2024.  After reviewing Richmond’s Final Plan, DEQ has determined the plan complies with requirements identified in the 2005 Order, 2020 Amendment and 2020 CSO Law. Completion of construction and related activities will be July 1, 2035.

Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney remarks that, “The City is capturing efficiencies to ensure there is a significant and clear benefit to the environment and the James River. However, we have to maintain the balance of investing in our aging infrastructure and making improvements to City services while being cognizant of affordability issues. Otherwise, City of Richmond will require markedly higher utility rates and an even greater disparity between Richmond and Virginia’s other CSO communities. In short, the city’s most vulnerable residents will not be able to afford it.”

DPU Senior Director April Bingham adds that, “The ability to significantly reduce the cost of the Final Plan from $1.3 billion to $650 million results from creative engineering efforts and design.” Director Bingham appreciates the partnership with the Commonwealth as the City focuses on the timeline, the cost, and the advocacy. She is especially thankful for the collaborative process with DEQ ahead of the Final Plan submission as well as the partnership of Richmond City Council through the adoption of Resolution No. 2022-R025.

DPU is committed to the City of Richmond’s goal of “Cleaner Water Faster”.  With the latest approvals from DEQ, the goal of controlling combined sewer overflow discharges into the James River by 2035 can become a reality through increased financial support.
 

City of Richmond Reaches Milestone to Improve Customer Service Delivery

The City of Richmond has reached a milestone as it continues to focus on improving customer service delivery. The Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has finalized an agreement with the Oracle Corporation to enhance the customer’s journey through modernized operations and increased self-service options. With Oracle Energy and Water’s “Software as a Service” (SaaS) solution set, DPU will modernize its Customer Information System (CIS) to provide a flexible, robust and rules-based solution designed to keep pace with the industry's rapidly changing trends.

Mayor Levar Stoney remarks, “As Mayor, I’m delighted to have reached this huge milestone that will continue my administration’s goal of improving City services and providing greater levels of service that our residents deserve. The City believes that Oracle provides a best in class, forward-looking solution that will deliver modern functionalities beyond what we currently have and I could not be more excited to see the progress.”

Chief Administrative Officer Lincoln Saunders adds that, “We were looking for a solution to enhance the customer experience that could keep up with our customers’ rapidly changing needs. We are excited to add this utility CIS replacement to the list of new technologies that will continue to enhance the everyday lives of our citizens.”

DPU will be implementing several components of Oracle’s platforms to provide greater support to the traditional gas, water, sewer and stormwater services in the Richmond region while delivering new tools and processes - which will lead to a more user-friendly bill redesign. This will allow DPU to deliver a unique and best-in-class customer experience that helps comply with current and future regulations while delivering continuous non-disruptive updates – and at the same time, keeping pace with the most current industry capabilities.

The Oracle solutions to be implemented will help the City of Richmond to lead implementation, adoption, and provide transformation services for the project.

Oracle was chosen because their solution is the most technologically advanced option compared to other solutions that were evaluated. DPU Senior Director April Bingham remarks, “We were impressed by Oracle’s capabilities, as well as their support for an omnichannel customer experience. We are confident in our choice and excited about the opportunity for success in upgrading our operations and the customer experience with Oracle.”

Implementation of this CIS will replace DPU’s aged Banner system, which is nearly 30 years old and reaching the end of its useful life. It will eliminate security risks associated with the current system and provide for enhanced disaster recovery efforts.

With the vendor selection final, the focus now shifts to the build out of the new system that will be customized for DPU’s gas and water customers. The anticipated go live date is Spring 2026.

Trademarks

Oracle, Java, MySQL and NetSuite are registered trademarks of Oracle Corporation. NetSuite was the first cloud company—ushering in the new era of cloud computing.

UPDATE: Advisory Lifted

City of Richmond Update to Tredegar Pipeline Trail Pipe Repair

August 1, 2024

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) is lifting the recreational water advisory for the James River beginning at the Manchester Bridge (9^th Street) in the City of Richmond and ending at Osborne Landing in Henrico County. The advisory was issued July 17, due to a sewer release near the Pipeline Trail, along the James River.

The City has met regularly with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and VDH since this incident, and DEQ and VDH have been actively monitoring the situation. Water quality sampling results collected by DEQ on July 29 and July 30, indicate bacteria concentrations in the James River in the prior advisory area are at levels acceptable for all recreational water use.

The City of Richmond continues to address the 42” failed pipe at the Tredegar Pipeline, which is a combined sewer system pipe. Long term and short-term actions include the following:

1. Installation of two large 42” inflatable plugs [COMPLETED]
   1. The plugs are designed to close off segments of the sewer line from any flow while repairs are taking place.
   2. Both plugs have been installed.
2. Temporary patching to the impacted areas of the pipe [COMPLETED]

• Consisting of epoxy and steel plates which are designed to seal all leakage points.
  
  • The temporary patch installations are complete.

3. Isolation of the damaged line segment to prevent any additional flow into the pipe [IN PROGRESS]
   1. A welder was onsite July 18, 2024 to assess the feasibility of a more permanent option. The assessment identified the solution to install metal flanges, which will be welded in place to completely isolate both ends of the pipe.
   2. This work will begin the week of August 5, 2024.        

The longer-term and more permanent solution requires an in-depth engineering design and coordination process as this 42” pipe is elevated above the river, where access and the ability to mobilize repair crews is a challenge.

 The City of Richmond is an old city with aged infrastructure. The Department of Public Utilities is responsible for a territory which includes 5,000 miles of water, sewer and gas pipes as well as 200,000+ other assets (i.e. fire hydrants, meters, valves). Condition assessments help to inform repair, rehabilitation and replacement schedules.

Residents, businesses and visitors rely upon the James River as a water supply source, an economic driver and a recreational resource. The City continues to undertake significant construction projects to protect and preserve the James River while partnering with stakeholders to help identify and prioritize ways to enhance the river.

VDH Lifts Recreational Water Advisory for the James River - Newsroom (virginia.gov)

July 24, 2024 

The City of Richmond continues to work with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regarding two isolated events which occurred during July 2024 at the Tredegar Pipeline Trail. These are two separate incidents and not a continual leak. Initial investigation showed that the first leak on July 2 was related to a wet weather event and was exacerbated by a stormwater connection from an adjacent commercial property. The City reported this to DEQ within 24 hours as required. The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities confirmed there were no leaks on July 3. There were also no citizen reports of the pipe leaking for the two weeks between the two incidents. The July 2 incident has been closed by DEQ.

The second incident was reported to the City on July 15, and the city immediately responded. The repairs are ongoing and the updates are outlined below.

The Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Department of Health (VDH) continue to monitor the impacts to the river. Sampling will continue to determine when the Recreational Water Advisory for the James River from Manchester Bridge to Osborne Landing will be lifted by VDH, when VDH determines bacteria levels are acceptable for recreational contact. The City is meeting regularly with DEQ and VDH to continue collaborative conversations regarding repairs.

Repair Updates

The City of Richmond continues to address the 42” failed pipe at the Tredegar Pipeline, which is a combined sewer system pipe. Long term and short-term actions include the following:

1. Installation of two large 42” inflatable plugs
   
   • The plugs are designed to close off segments of the sewer line from any flow while repairs are taking place.
   • Installation of the large inflatable plugs started July 18, 2024 and one plug was successfully installed. Installation of the second plug is in process.
2. A temporary patch to the impacted area of the pipe (i.e. under the belly of)

• Consisting of epoxy and steel plates which are designed to seal all leakage points.
  
  • This work began Monday, July 22, 2024 and has been challenging as crews have had to consider workarounds based on the location and complexity of the impacted area.

3. Isolation of the damaged line segment to prevent any additional flow into the pipe
   
   • A welder was onsite July 18, 2024 to assess the feasibility of a more permanent option. The assessment identified the solution to install metal flanges, which will be welded in place to completely isolate both ends of the pipe. This work is expected to begin the first week of August 2024.               

The longer-term and more permanent solution requires an in-depth engineering design and coordination as this 42” pipe is elevated above the river, where access and the ability to mobilize repair crews is a challenge.

The City of Richmond is an old city with aged infrastructure. The Department of Public Utilities is responsible for a territory which includes 5,000 miles of water, sewer and gas pipes as well as 200,000+ other assets (i.e. fire hydrants, meters, valves).  Condition assessments help to inform repair, rehabilitation and replacement schedules.

July 17, 2024

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) issued a recreational water advisory for the James River beginning at the Manchester Bridge (9^th Street) in the City of Richmond to Osborne Landing in Henrico County. For the safety of people and pets, VDH is advising that recreational water activities, such as swimming, wading, tubing, and whitewater kayaking (where submersion in the water is likely), should be avoided.  

The City of Richmond’s drinking water is upstream from the impacted site and is not impacted.  

This advisory is being released out of an abundance of caution due to a leak in a sewage pipe on the Pipeline Trail, which was reported on July 16. City crews joined with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), immediately responded to assess the site, and performed testing which confirmed high levels of bacteria. Investigation revealed that a bypass pumps had gone off-line. Crews were able to re-establish the bypass pumping operation to remove all flow from the pipe thereby severely diminishing the sewage release. Repairs of this 42” pipe will begin within the next 24 hours. Repairs include installation of large inflatable plugs, isolation of the damaged line segment to prevent any additional flow, and a temporary patch to the impacted area of the pipe. The City believes this immediate response will eliminate further impacts to the river. The long-term solution requires more in-depth design and coordination as this 42” pipe is elevated above the river, where access is a challenge. 

Signage has been installed at the public access points. Public access points to the James River in the impacted area include Great Shiplock Park and Chapel Island, 14th Street Takeout, Dock Street Park, Wharf Street / Intermediate Terminal, Ancarrow’s Landing, and Osborne Landing.  

FAQs 

 As a City of Richmond resident, should I be concerned about my drinking water? 

No. The City of Richmond’s drinking water source is not impacted. Drinking water samples continue to meet Virginia Department of Health (VDH) standards.  

Should I swim in the river? 

Not until the advisory is lifted. Recreational water activities, such as swimming, wading, tubing, and whitewater kayaking (where submersion in the water is likely), should be avoided. However, activities, which are not likely to result in water submersion (boating, fishing, canoeing), may continue with proper caution to avoid contact with the water. 

Why did this happen? 

The pipe has been identified as being put into service over 50 years ago and is further environmentally compromised based on its exposure to the elements and its location – which is suspended above the river.  

What is the City doing to prevent this from happening in the short-term? 

The City is working with a contractor for both temporary and permanent repairs. The temporary repairs include installation of large inflatable plugs, isolation of the damaged line segment to prevent any additional flow, and the service of a welder to create a temporary patch to the impacted area of the pipe.  

What is the City doing to prevent this from happening in the long-term? 

The long-term solution requires an in-depth engineering design and coordination as this 42” pipe is elevated above the river, where access is a challenge.