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Powhatan adopts 20‑year water and wastewater master plan; costs and interconnection options outlined
Summary
The board adopted Dewberry’s 2025 Water and Wastewater Master Plan by a 5–0 vote. The plan projects water demand growing from about 600,000 gpd to roughly 2.2 million gpd by 2045 and presents three sourcing scenarios with high-level cost estimates.
The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors on July 28 adopted a 20‑year water and wastewater master plan developed by Dewberry Engineers, approving resolution r-2025-47 by a 5–0 roll-call vote.
Brett Heim of Dewberry told the board the plan is a tool to guide utility investments and communication over the next two decades. Heim said current maximum day water demand in the county is approximately 600,000 gallons per day and projected demand under the plan’s growth assumptions could reach about 2.2 million gallons per day by 2045. Average‑day sewer needs were also projected to grow significantly.
Dewberry presented three scenarios for where additional finished water could come from: 1) using the existing Route 60 interconnection with Chesterfield County (the most favorable case), 2) securing water from Chesterfield plus a secondary interconnect at Robius Road, and 3) a longer transmission main from Henrico County — the most expensive option that could require a subaqueous crossing of the James River.
Heim outlined major recommended wastewater projects, including phased expansion of the Du Toit Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, consolidation of Fighting Creek plant flow to Du Toit Creek, and a potential outfall relocation pending DEQ input. High‑level planning estimates provided in the presentation placed water capital needs near $68 million over 20 years, and wastewater toward the tens of millions (estimates vary by scenario and could be offset by grants such as WQIF from DEQ).
County staff and Dewberry said lead time is critical: preliminary engineering now would support a construction window beginning roughly in the 2030 timeframe for Du Toit Creek expansion, with engineering/design and construction together constituting a multi‑year schedule. Staff indicated a proposal to start preliminary engineering and to fold DEQ corrective‑action work into future design where appropriate.
Supervisor questions focused on timeline, grant eligibility and how new development patterns in the comprehensive plan could affect demand locations and cost allocations. Dewberry and staff said the plan is a flexible tool and will be updated as water sourcing decisions and land‑use plans evolve.
Next steps: the board’s adoption formalizes the county’s guidance for utility capital planning; staff recommended early engineering work and continued coordination with Chesterfield and Henrico regarding interconnections and potential grant funding opportunities.
