Water Pollution Control

Water Pollution Control

Water Pollution Control Facility

• The town recently completed a $6.5 million grant-funded nutrient removal upgrade of the Water Pollution Control Facility.

• In January 2002, construction was completed on an $11 million Biosolids Processing Facility for drying sludge. This will be the first dryer of its type approved in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The pelletized biosolids product named Tuscarora Landscaper’s Choice (TLC) is distributed commercially and at no charge to residents of Leesburg. For more information on this product or how to obtain the product, call the Water Pollution Control Facility 703-737-7100.

• Existing Sanitary Sewer System
  • Sanitary Sewer Main - 159 miles
  • Sanitary Sewer Forcemain - 9.4 miles
  • Manholes - 4588
  • Pump Station - 9
    
    
• The 4.85 MGD Water Pollution Control Facility is currently being designed for expansion to meet anticipated growth needs for the town as well as implementation of an odor control system.

There are 159 miles of sanitary sewer main beneath the ground in Leesburg, mostly under the pavement. The sanitary sewer mains carry wastewater from homes or business to the Water Pollution Control Facility for treatment. Leesburg’s sewer mains range in size from 4 inches to 36 inches in diameter while connecting and changing direction at 4,588 different manholes which are located in the streets and easements.

Manholes are an important part of the sanitary sewer system because they:

• Are points of entry for cleaning and inspection by TV equipment.
• Allow venting of sewer gases.
• Are used as evaluation points to make quick assessments in emergency situations.

It is therefore important to keep manholes accessible.

Originally in the 1950’s, terra cotta (clay) sanitary sewer pipes were installed throughout the system. In 1972, the Town started to use asbestos cement (A.C.) sanitary sewer pipe after it became apparent that the joints in clay pipes were weak and the material was impervious to gases or chemicals in the sewer system. Over the next few years, A.C. was determined to be hazardous to pipe handlers and installers and was abolished from use in sanitary sewer systems. Since 1979 and to present day, the town uses plastic or ductile iron pipe. These pipes appear to have all the right characteristics for the system. The plastic pipe has a high abrasion resistance, is resilient to water or root problems, is flexible and has a long life expectancy.

Pump Stations

In most situations, wastewater follows the natural fall of the ground along waterways and this is called a “gravity feed system". Occasionally in low lying areas, gravity feed cannot be achieved and use of pump station is necessary. A pump station through the use of pumps and a forcemain pipe conveys wastewater up to a higher elevation manhole where the gravity system takes the wastewater flow to the Water Pollution Control Facility. Pump stations are also referred to as lift stations.