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Williamsburg to replace aging water main near Colonial Parkway with federally funded design work
Summary
City staff told council they will replace a 60-year-old 8-inch cast-iron line with a 12-inch ductile-iron main to reduce leakage and add redundancy; $1.444 million in EPA grant funds cover the bulk of the $1.8 million project and council approved a $269,452 purchase order for engineering design services to WRA.
City public works staff asked the Williamsburg City Council on March 12 to authorize engineering design work for the Colonial Parkway water-line replacement project, a move officials said is needed after recurring leaks forced the existing 8-inch cast-iron main out of service.
"The existing water line is a 60-year 8 inch cast iron pipe that has been having problems experiencing leakages..." a project presenter said, describing the line’s age and the risk of infiltration that prompted the replacement plan. The replacement would install a new 12-inch ductile-iron main about 4,750 linear feet adjacent to Colonial Parkway to improve pressure, create a looped system and provide redundancy for nearby neighborhoods.
The project’s estimated total cost is $1.8 million. City staff said $1,444,000 has been allocated through an EPA community grants program on an 80/20 basis, leaving an expected city contribution near $360,000. Staff asked the council to authorize a $269,452 purchase order to Whitman, Requardt & Associates (WRA) for engineering design, environmental investigation, survey, geotechnical work, and final construction documents; council approved the purchase order.
Speakers noted coordination will be required with the National Park Service because the work runs adjacent to Colonial Parkway, which the Park Service maintains. Staff also said the line has not been previously replaced and that distribution improvements will restore system resiliency.
Council authorized the interim city manager to execute the purchase order and directed staff to proceed with the design and permitting process. No construction contract was awarded at the meeting; staff said design and permitting are expected to take about 12 months before putting the project out for bid.
