Fluvanna discusses Fork Union water treatment plan, timeline and costs tied to Dominion proffer

A preliminary engineering report for a water treatment plant and distribution extensions serving the Fork Union area was presented to the Fluvanna Board of Supervisors on June 18, 2025, with engineers saying the design has been value-engineered to fit the county's available proffer funds and to provide capacity that can be expanded.

Brett Helms, a project engineer with Dewberry Engineers, told the board the project was developed after a special-use permit for coal combustion residuals at the Bremo power station triggered a county agreement to provide public water to addresses within a 1.5-mile radius that may be affected by groundwater impacts. "The source itself has been identified, permitted, and is currently under construction," Helms said, referring to the raw-water supply that will be delivered through the James River Water Authority (JRWA) line.

The report evaluated two possible treatment-plant sites and recommended a county-owned parcel on James Madison Highway to avoid land acquisition delays and to place the plant nearer to customers. The conceptual design includes a conventional surface-water treatment train with an optional nanofiltration step to address potential future PFAS regulation. Helms said the recommended treatment capacity was reduced in value-engineering from 1.0 million gallons per day (MGD) to 0.75 MGD to lower cost while leaving room to expand later: "We decreased the size of that as a value-engineering step to 750,000 gallons per day."

Why it matters: the project is funded in part by proffers from Dominion Energy tied to the Bremo-related permit. County staff said the total proffer package is roughly $49.6 million and, after set-asides for roads and parks, about $47 million is available for water improvements; the county also received a $2.1 million upfront advance that paid for initial engineering. Meeting materials showed the project's initial concept budget at about $70 million; Helms said value-engineering has reduced a prior estimate and the current high-level budget for the recommended scope is about $49 million, but that figure is still conceptual and depends on design and easement acquisition.

Board members and staff questioned options for phasing and redundancy. Dewberry and Department of Public Utilities staff warned the board that removing elements such as an initial elevated storage tank and a raw-water pumping station reduced near-term costs but lowered redundancy. Helms said a raw-water pipeline sized at 12 inches would provide at least a 2 MGD hydraulic capacity and that the treatment plant site was arranged so additional trains and tanks could be added later: "The raw waterline has adequate capacity…there's space on the site for additional treatment trains to expand the facility."

County staff and the consulting team also tied the Fork Union plan to ongoing JRWA work to bring raw water from the James River. Eric (JRWA project representative) and Matt Mitchell of Fluvanna's Department of Public Utilities described JRWA construction progress and timing for the river intake and pump station. Mitchell said some Fork Union wells will be taken offline under the agreement and emphasized that a phased approach would reduce operational risk: "Right now the current peak for Fork Union is 370,000 gallons; this will more than double what's available down there and gives expandability."

Costs, schedule and next steps: Helms said land acquisition and outreach (roughly 180 parcel crossings by his estimate) are likely the schedule drivers and that engineering would take about 18–24 months. He estimated construction could be bid in 2027 with a 2–3 year construction period — placing full operation near 2030 under the current timetable. He also described items removed during value-engineering (elevated storage tank, a raw-water pump station, and a smaller treatment capacity) and estimated the initial conceptual budget fell from about $70 million to roughly $49 million after those steps. County staff said Dewberry will bring a design-and-permitting proposal to the Board, likely in August, to start detailed engineering.

Discussion points and concerns included: how to preserve redundancy if key components are deferred; how Dominion's reimbursement proffer will be released (the proffer is structured as a reimbursement grant and requires invoice submissions); the potential effect on Fork Union Sanitary District (FUSDI) rates and future capital needs; and how blending treated surface water with existing groundwater would be managed in detailed design and operations. Mitchell said some existing wells are low producers or require downtime, and that replacing aging system components will remain a separate financial and operational challenge for the FUSDI system.

The board did not take a binding vote on construction authorization at the meeting; staff said a Dewberry professional-services agreement for detailed engineering will be brought back for board approval, likely in August. For now the county will continue coordination with JRWA and proceed with design funding and outreach.