Middlesex sewer costs double

Future of Saluda to Deltaville system uncertain

Right now it would reportedly cost $82 million to build a 17-mile forced main sewer pipeline from Saluda to Deltaville and on to an existing pipeline in Mathews County.

Only two construction bids to build the forced main were received by the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) and both are almost twice the engineer’s estimate of $45 million, according to HRSD’s website.

“Since the engineer’s estimate and the bids received are significantly different, HRSD is analyzing the bids received to determine HRSD’s best options,” wrote HRSD’s director of communications Leila Rice, responding to the Sentinel’s question.

Big picture

HRSD plans to run a 17-mile-long “forced main” line from Saluda to Deltaville and under the Piankatank River to connect to an existing sewer line on Route 198 in Mathews that flows to HRSD’s Yorktown plant for treatment and discharge into the York River. Once completed, HRSD’s treatment plants in Urbanna and Saluda will be dismantled and the wastewater will flow to Yorktown, about 40 miles away. HRSD has stated it is committed to building the forced main regardless of Middlesex County’s plan for collection systems.