The Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors meeting on September 17, 2025, focused on a significant update regarding the Proctors Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant. The discussion highlighted a major construction project aimed at enhancing the facility's capacity and efficiency.

The project includes several key components. First, hydraulic improvements will be made to the existing fine screen building, which involves replacing and enlarging the effluent piping and adding a bypass pipe to the flow equalization basin. This upgrade is designed to accommodate the plant's ultimate capacity of 54 million gallons per day (MGD).

Another critical aspect of the project is the complete rehabilitation of the influent pump station. This will involve upgrading the existing eight wastewater pumps with larger impellers to increase pumping capacity. Additionally, the effluent pipe will be relocated and resized to align with the facility's master plan.

A new core screen and state-of-the-art grit removal facility will also be installed, replacing outdated equipment that has reached the end of its useful life. The most substantial component of the project is a massive 12 million-gallon flow equalization basin, which will serve as a hydraulic shock absorber for the system. This basin will be approximately the size of a football field and 40 feet deep, allowing for more efficient wastewater treatment and cost savings.

The project, which has been in planning for over a decade, is set to cost approximately $168 million, making it one of the largest construction projects in Chesterfield Utilities history. The Board is expected to award the contract to MEB General Contractors, the lowest responsible bidder, and request an additional appropriation of $21 million from the rate stabilization reserve to fully fund the project.

Construction is anticipated to take five years, with completion expected around 2031. This upgrade is crucial for providing reliable and safe wastewater service to the community, ensuring that treated water meets high-quality standards before being discharged into the James River. The current average processing capacity is about 18 million gallons per day, with peak flows sometimes exceeding 27 million gallons. The improvements will enhance the plant's ability to manage these flows effectively.