Capital Improvement Projects

The T16 Ridge Road Water Storage Tank Replacement Project is part of Prince William Water’s ongoing commitment to maintain and strengthen the reliability of drinking water infrastructure across the service area. The existing T16 tank, located at 1860 Ridge Road in Haymarket, VA, is a 96,000-gallon bolted steel ground storage tank constructed in 1994. After more than 30 years of service, the tank has reached the end of its useful life and shows extensive structural degradation, coating failure, and multiple safety and regulatory deficiencies. 

Following comprehensive inspections and engineering evaluations, Prince William Water determined that replacement of the existing tank with a new welded steel tank is the most cost-effective and long-term solution. A welded steel tank offers an expected service life of approximately 75 years, improved structural resilience, lower lifecycle maintenance, and full compliance with updated AWWA and OSHA standards. 

The project also includes construction of a new access road, grading improvements, safety enhancements, replacements of aging electrical and instrumentation systems, and upgrades to on-site operational equipment. Together, these improvements ensure continued reliable water service to the surrounding communities and improved operational efficiency for decades to come.

Why Replacement Is Recommended

Engineering analysis showed that rehabilitating the existing tank would require extensive repairs, long outages, and costs approaching or exceeding that of a new tank, while only adding 10–15 years of life. In contrast, a new welded steel tank provides:

• Longer service life (~75 years)
• Lower long-term maintenance costs
• Enhanced structural integrity
• Improved access and safety
• Reduced outage duration compared to rehabilitation

Schedule

• Design Duration: Approximately 10 months (including shop drawings, fabrication, and submittals).
• Construction Duration: Approximately 10 months, including demolition, foundation work, tank erection, coating, and commissioning.

The Occoquan Creek Sewage Pumping Station (SPS) Replacement and Gravity Sewer Main Project will modernize critical wastewater infrastructure serving Prince William County. The existing pump station, built in 1975, has aging equipment and is increasingly vulnerable to flooding and shoreline erosion. A 2018 condition assessment confirmed the need for full replacement to ensure long-term reliability, environmental protection, and continued service to the community.

The project also includes construction of a new 42-inch gravity sewer main that will convey wastewater more efficiently to the new pump station. The gravity main will replace aging infrastructure, improve system hydraulics, and provide capacity for future growth.

Prince William Water evaluated multiple locations and selected a new pump station site that improves safety, efficiency, and resiliency while minimizing community impacts. The new facility will be elevated above the floodplain and relocated away from the shoreline, significantly reducing flood risk. Construction is targeted to begin in late 2026, with an estimated one- to two-year schedule.

Project Goals

• Replace the existing Occoquan Creek SPS with a modern facility that meets current design and regulatory standards.
• Construct a new 42-inch gravity sewer main to improve conveyance reliability and system performance.
• Increase future wastewater capacity to approximately 17.28 million gallons per day (MGD).
• Improve system resiliency by reducing flood risk and exposure to shoreline erosion.
• Minimize odor and noise impacts through advanced odor control and sound-reducing enclosures.

Key Benefits

• A more resilient, discreet, and reliable wastewater facility.
• Improved wastewater conveyance through a new large-diameter gravity sewer main.
• Activated carbon odor control achieving up to 99.5% hydrogen sulfide removal.
• Reduced odor formation due to improved pump efficiency and lower wastewater retention times.
• Reliable wastewater service to support current demands and future growth in Prince William County.

The existing Spinnaker Court Sewage Pumping Station (SPS), constructed in 1970, as a wet well/dry well station will be replaced to upgrade the SPS to the latest codes and standards, and replace the aging structures and equipment. Five hundred feet of new six-inch force main will also be constructed to replace the aging four-inch force main discharging from the SPS to a manhole at Helm Court. The new station will serve the community for many years.