Alexandria Is Close to Fixing Its Sewage Woes

After 16 months and $615 of tunneling, Alexandria, Virginia is nearly finished digging a 2.2-mile-long tunnel beneath the city and the Potomac River that will fix its sewage overflow problem.

2 minute read

August 29, 2024, 7:00 AM PDT

By Mary Hammon @marykhammon


Aerial view of Alexandria, Virginia from over Potomac River

Steve Heap / Alexandria, Virginia

After over a year of tunneling, Alexandria, Virginia’s efforts to reduce sewage overflows will soon bear fruit, reports Sarah Vogelsong for Inside Climate News. Officials hope the opening of a new 2.2-mile-long sewage storage tunnel beneath Alexandria and the Potomac River will solve the city’s sewage overflow problems during heavy storms, which they anticipate will only get more severe and frequent with climate change.

At issue is the city’s older combined sewer system infrastructure, which allows sewage and runoff from storms to flow through the same pipes; newer systems typically aren’t typically constructed this way. The article explains the problem: “In dry weather, all the flows are directed to wastewater plants for treatment. But heavy rainstorms can overwhelm the system, causing overflows of stormwater as well as sewage into rivers and creeks. That pollution poses a threat to both human health and aquatic life, frequently spurring cities to shut down or restrict access to their waterways.” Alexandria and the state capital, Richmond, both have this kind of system and have been required by the state legislature to address the overflows. But they aren’t alone. Another 700 municipalities across the United States, including New York City and Chicago, have combined sewer systems and deal with similar issues, though that number is down from 1,100 in 1994, Vogelsong writes.

“Curbing the pollution that stems from these systems is a daunting task, one that takes not only engineering on a massive scale, but money in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. In Virginia, Alexandria’s project comes with a price tag of $615 million. Richmond has spent roughly $300 million over the past 35 years and expects to pony up an additional $600 million to meet the state’s 2035 deadline,” the article reads. Vogelsong also reports that the issue might get increased attention when a new legal case brought by San Francisco against the EPA is scheduled to go before the Supreme Court in its next term. It will be one of the first major environmental cases since the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine, an action that stripped ​​federal agencies of the final say on ambiguous policies contained within federal legislation like the Clean Water Act.

Tuesday, August 20, 2024 in Inside Climate News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

View of Washington state capitol dome in Olympia, Washington at golden hour.

Washington Legislature Passes Rent Increase Cap

A bill that caps rent increases at 7 percent plus inflation is headed to the governor’s desk.

April 29 - Washington State Standard

Low view of Glendale Narrows section of Los Angeles River with concrete bottom and cloudy storm sky over head.

From Planning to Action: How LA County Is Rethinking Climate Resilience

Chief Sustainability Officer Rita Kampalath outlines the County’s shift from planning to implementation in its climate resilience efforts, emphasizing cross-departmental coordination, updated recovery strategies, and the need for flexible funding.

April 29 - The Planning Report

Grandparents sitting on bench with young girl and boy, girl holding ball and boy holding ukelele.

New Mexico Aging Department Commits to Helping Seniors Age ‘In Place’ and ‘Autonomously’ in New Draft Plan

As New Mexico’s population of seniors continues to grow, the state’s aging department is proposing expanded initiatives to help seniors maintain their autonomy while also supporting family caregivers.

April 29 - Source NM