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Council approves allocation of 2 MGD to Prince George County after consultant analysis of treatment capacity
Summary
Hopewell City Council approved a request to allocate up to 2 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater treatment capacity to Prince George County to support a potential economic-development project and help the county secure a Commonwealth grant; HDR consultant said the plant has near‑term capacity if solids issues are addressed.
The Hopewell City Council voted 6–0 on March 26 to approve an allocation of 2 million gallons per day (MGD) of wastewater treatment capacity to Prince George County, a step county officials said could help secure a Commonwealth grant tied to an economic-development project.
Deputy City Manager James Gaston and Hopewell Water Renewal staff said Prince George requested a formal letter indicating that Hopewell could accept 2 MGD if the county selected Hopewell Water Renewal as the receiving facility. Gaston told council the request was time sensitive because a Commonwealth grant application deadline (referenced in discussion) would be missed without the letter.
HDR consultant Stan Hengly briefed council on a recent capacity assessment. Hengly said the facility’s domestic treatment train has hydraulic capacity and that, assuming the elevated solids loading issue is resolved or mitigated, the plant could accept additional flow. He summarized the consultant’s analysis, saying the near‑term available capacity on the domestic side is about 4 MGD but that in a 15‑year forecast the available capacity for additional sources is closer to 3.6 MGD; he also warned that total solids (TSS) entering the domestic train exceeded the design basis in the samples the firm reviewed and that resolving that solids issue is an important step to restoring dependable capacity.
Councilor Holloway asked whether accepting flow now would exacerbate the plant’s solids-loading problem; Hengly said any agreement would need terms requiring cost‑sharing for plant upgrades and that upgrades to processes or solids handling would be part of a negotiated agreement with Prince George.
The motion to approve the 2 MGD allocation passed 6–0. Councilors and staff said the vote authorizes an allocation letter but does not itself commit the city to pay for future upgrades; councilors asked staff to return with detailed terms and cost-sharing proposals if negotiations progress.
Ending: Staff noted that if Prince George moves forward and an earmark or other funding is awarded, detailed engineering, cost estimates and a proposed intergovernmental agreement would return to council for approval.
