Water Sources and Treatment
Chesterfield County Department of Utilities’ customers are fortunate because their water is supplied by three sources. Figure 1 shows where water is sourced from the James River (tan), a mixture of the Swift Creek Reservoir and Lake Chesdin (lavender), and Lake Chesdin (blue). The map also displays the Appomattox River along the southern boundary and the City of Richmond Water Treatment Plant located north of the county in the city of Richmond. The county is actively pursuing a fourth water supply, the Point of Rocks Water Treatment Plant, as a resource for the next century. The raw water intake is in the Appomattox Tidal Basin and will provide up to 27 million gallons per day (MGD) upon completion of the first phase. The project is anticipated to be completed between 2032 and 2036, with the ability to expand to meet future water needs. The Department of Utilities has acquired the 33-acre water intake site and an 89-acre treatment facility site, and the project is currently under design. This facility will serve as the county’s fourth water source, enhancing its capacity to meet growing demand.
The Chesterfield County Department of Utilities owns and operates the Addison-Evans Water Production and Laboratory Facility, which is located on the Swift Creek Reservoir. This facility has a capacity of 12 MGD and produces approximately 18.8 percent of the county’s water needs. The county is one of five members of the Appomattox River Water Authority (ARWA), which is located on Lake Chesdin. The county has a daily allocation of 66.5 MGD from the authority and receives approximately 58.8 percent of a typical daily water demand from this source. The third water source is the James River, which supplies the city of Richmond’s water treatment facility. The county’s contract with the city ensures an available supply of 32 MGD. The James River provides an average of 22.4 percent of the county’s drinking water. The total source water capacity is 110.5 million gallons of water per day, and the average daily water demand is 40.7 MGD.
Water System Information Summary
- Miles of Water Lines: 2,173
- Water Storage Tanks: 25
- Water Tank Capacity: 42.25 million gallons
- Water Pump Stations: 15
- Active Water Services: 124,444
- Estimated Population Served: 388,956
Water Plants
Addison-Evans Water Production and Laboratory Facility
- Capacity: 12 MGD
- Average Production: 7.61
Appomattox River Water Authority
- Capacity: 96 MGD
- Allocation: 66.5 MGD
- Average Production: 23.96 MGD
City of Richmond
- Allocation: 32 MGD
- Average Purchased: 9.15 MGD
Wastewater Treatment
Maintaining water quality in the James River and Chesapeake Bay is vital to the social and economic future of Chesterfield County and Virginia. Chesterfield County has two wastewater treatment plants. The Falling Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant and the Proctors Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant play critical roles in ensuring that wastewater is clean and safe when it is returned to the environment. The map below outlines the county’s service areas and systems. Both wastewater treatment plants have received awards of recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Water Environment Association. Both plants use state-of-the-art technology to remove pollutants from wastewater before it is returned to the James River. Serving as the county’s first wastewater treatment facility, the Falling Creek Plant opened in 1965 with a treatment capacity of 3 MGD. Expansions and upgrades brought the plant to its current capacity of 12 MGD. In 1975, the Proctors Creek Plant opened to serve a significant portion of Chesterfield. With its expansions and upgrades, its current capacity is 27 MGD. With a total capacity of 39 MGD, these treatment plants can meet the county’s needs well into the future. The county has a reciprocal agreement with the city of Richmond to treat wastewater flows from the northern portion of the county. Chesterfield is also a member of the South Central Wastewater Authority and has an allotted capacity of 2.3 MGD from the facility. This facility serves areas in southern Chesterfield.
Figure 5 shows where the county's wastewater flows, with the northern region (yellow) flowing to Richmond, the northeastern region below it flowing to Falling Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (blue), and the majority of the county's western and eastern areas flowing to Proctor's Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant (green). A small portion of the southeastern region flows to the South Central Wastewater Authority.
Wastewater System Information Summary
- Miles of Wastewater Lines: 2,291
- Wastewater Pump Stations: 25
- Active Wastewater Services: 106,423
- Estimated Population Served: 342,222
- Total Capacity: 41.3 MGD
- Wastewater Treated: 25.7 MGD
Wastewater Plants
Falling Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
Capacity: 12 MGD
Proctors Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant
Capacity: 27 MGD
South Central Wastewater Treatment Plant
Capacity: 2.3 MGD
Protecting the Water Quality of the James River and Chesapeake Bay
Beginning in 2012, the Falling Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant started operating its biological-nutrient-removal (PDF) facility. This ongoing treatment involves the use of advanced treatment technologies that convert ammonia in wastewater to nitrogen gas and release it harmlessly into the air. The Proctors Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant started full operation of the same nutrient-removal technologies in 2014. The investment in these projects has proven successful. This year, these plants removed approximately 2,842,497 pounds of nitrogen and 321,069 pounds of phosphorus, thereby improving the water quality in the James River and Chesapeake Bay.
From the Director
The Chesterfield County Department of Utilities is a public water and wastewater utility that operates as an enterprise fund. It is sustained by the department's revenue and does not use tax revenue. It is operated and funded much like a private company. The primary functions of the department are to provide its customers with the highest quality drinking water while also protecting the James River and Chesapeake Bay by operating advanced wastewater treatment facilities. The department uses state-of-the-art technology to deliver the highest quality products and services to its customers. The department provides water service to more than 124,000 customers and wastewater service to over 106,000 customers. It operates with an annual operating budget of approximately $104 million, employs 346 full-time staff members, owns one water treatment plant and two wastewater treatment plants, and manages 25 water storage tanks and 40 pump stations. The department is committed to ensuring the safe and efficient delivery of water to its customers. Chesterfield County residents can trust that their drinking water meets or exceeds all federal standards, while also benefiting from some of the lowest rates in the region. Thanks to its affordable pricing and consistently strong financial standing, the Chesterfield County Department of Utilities is one of the few water and wastewater utilities in the country to maintain AAA bond ratings from all three major rating agencies. The department's strategic performance plan is built around four key areas: financial stability, customer service, quality products and services, and workplace environment. Each division sets performance metrics, which are monitored monthly or annually, with a yearly review. This plan, available on the department’s website, plays a critical role in driving the department’s success. By regularly assessing its operations and progress, the department continues to enhance its tradition of excellence in customer service.
-Matt Rembold, P.E., Director of Utilities
Achievements
2020—Received the Excellence in Management Platinum Recognition award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), one of three in the nation to achieve this honor.
2020—Director George B. Hayes received the A.H. Paessler award from the Virginia Water Environment Association for his commitment to environmental stewardship and the wastewater industry.
2021—Received the Water Heroes Award from the Water Environment Federation for the department’s emergency response to a severe flooding disaster in August 2020.
2021—The Addison-Evans Water Production and Laboratory Facility advanced to the Silver Award for Water Treatment Plant Performance for Excellence from the Virginia Department of Health.
2021—The Addison-Evans Water Production and Laboratory received the Fluoridation Quality Award from the Center of Disease Control.
2021—Received the Utility of the Future Award from the Water Environment Federation for being forward-thinking, innovative, and for providing resilient and value-added service to our communities.
2022—Director George B. Hayes received the NACWA National Environmental Achievement Award for outstanding environmental leadership within Chesterfield County Utilities, the state and the national level.
2023—Received a Virginia Association of Counties Award for the department’s customer focused practices.
2023—The Addison-Evans Water Production and Laboratory Facility received the 25-Year Director’s Award for maintaining the Partnership for Safe Drinking Water Program standards.
2023—Falling Creek and Proctors Creek Wastewater Treatment Plants won the NACWA Peak Performance Award for 100 percent compliance with NPDES for more than 5 years.
2024—Received the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies' Sustainable Water Utility Management Award for effective management and significant contribution to the drinking water industry.
2024—Received the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water Excellence in Waterworks Operations/Performance Award.
2025—Three department projects were recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo). The department has received more than 30 NACo awards for employee innovation and cost-savings ideas.