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CCUSA weighs buying Lynchburg capacity versus building $45M wastewater plant
Summary
CCUSA staff reported growing wastewater demand in several corridors and presented two main responses: pay for upsizing capacity in the City of Lynchburg (interceptor/pipe upgrades estimated $2.4M for one corridor) or study building an in‑county 1.0 MGD treatment plant (estimate ~$45.6M).
Campbell County Service Authority staff told a joint workshop that wastewater capacity is increasingly constrained in growth corridors and that the authority must decide whether to rely on expanded regional capacity or pursue a local treatment option.
Tim Wagner explained that CCUSA currently purchases treatment capacity at the regional plant operated by the City of Lynchburg and that five connection points exist between CCUSA service areas and Lynchburg's system. Staff noted available capacity varies by connection point: Dreaming Creek was cited at about 34% available, while other interceptors showed more room.
When asked about options beyond purchased capacity, staff described two paths: pay CCUSA's share of upsizing the city interceptors and treatment capacity (example cost cited: about $2.4 million to obtain the Dreaming Creek capacity needed), or study and build an independent in-county 1.0 MGD wastewater treatment plant and associated conveyance (engineer's order-of-magnitude estimate cited at roughly $45.6 million including land and piping). Staff characterized the first option as continuing regional reliance; the second as greater separation and longer-term capital commitment.
Wagner emphasized the need to update the wastewater master plan and study alternatives, not to pre-commit to a single path: "Do we wanna do our own wastewater treatment plant? Kinda get a little bit of separation for the city of Lynchburg. I'm not saying that's the solution. It's something that's worth studying," he said.
Board members asked staff to include financial scenarios and timing in the planned study; staff said projects will be included in capital planning and that funding sources (city agreements, loans, grants) would be explored.
Next procedural steps included pursuing design work where needed, continuing dialogue with Lynchburg on interceptor upgrades, and returning with a more detailed master-plan update and cost estimates for supervisor review.
