Regional Wet Weather Management Plan Annual Update Annual Update

February 2014 Volume 6, Issue 1 Visit the RWWMP Web page at www.HRSD.com HRSD Reports Progress on Sanitary for: Sewer Overflow (SSO) Reduction  Background information Program  Related news articles Chris Wilson, P.E. model maintenance continues. During 2013, HRSD completed the  Public presentations and Brown and Caldwell final components of its condition  Other related information assessment program evaluating the HRSD held its annual meeting to many parts of the wastewater review the status of the Regional Wet collection system. HRSD has been Weather Management Plan (RWWMP) performing these inspections on a on Tuesday, January 28, 2014. The routine basis. The comprehensive public was invited to attend this assessment of the system that began in session, which included information 2008 was completed in October 2013. Inside this issue: about the extensive cooperation The majority of the condition between HRSD and the localities it Tips to Protect Area assessment work was completed in Waterways 2 serves. 2011, with some of the more Study Completed to Assess complicated pipe inspections extending Benefits of Wastewater 3 HRSD is engaged in a multi-year effort into 2013. HRSD met a major System Consolidation to reduce sanitary sewer overflows milestone in February 2013, with the (SSOs) in the Hampton Roads area. How to Report SSOs 4 completion of a Rehabilitation Action These overflows occur when the Plan which defines the work necessary Locality Team Participants 4 system is overloaded with excess and schedule to complete it based on storm water or groundwater that the condition assessment findings. An HRSD Service Area Map 4 enters the system during rain events, update to this plan was completed in or when pipes or pumps fail due to February 2014, following completion of unexpected mechanical problems or the condition assessment activities in pipe breaks. 2013.

The SSO reduction program includes The deadline to complete the wide-scale monitoring of wastewater For information on RWWMP has been extended pending flows, pressures and rainfall; the result of the consolidation study. everything green in development of a computer model of Hampton Roads, Alternatives and solutions to the the pipe network; inspection of the capacity limitations will be identified visit: system’s many assets (pipes and www.askhrgreen.org and compiled into this RWWMP pumping stations); and development of following the ongoing consolidation a RWWMP. The flow, pressure, and study (please see article on Page 3). Go to: rainfall monitoring program and www.elizabethriver.org development of the computer model to learn how to make have been completed in previous years, restoration a reality. although ongoing monitoring and Regional Wet Weather Management Plan Annual Update

Tips to Protect Area Waterways Green Your Baby Routine With Cloth

Sarah Crawford the word cloth – today’s cloth diapers putting the in the trash. HRSD Community Educator are not your mother’s cloth diapers. How many people do you know that rinse out disposable diapers? I used cloth diapers for about 2 years Every new mom is faced with a Yeah, me neither. Sending all this with my daughter and I’ll be doing the million decisions to make regarding baby waste to landfills could spread same with Baby #2, who is due this which baby products to buy. Which disease. May. Why? Well, I could talk about crib is the best? Which car seat is the how much I love cloth for an hour, 3. REDUCED CHEMICAL safest? Are all diapers created equal? but to spare you I’ve condensed what EXPOSURE FOR YOUR BABY These questions multiply when you’re could be a 10-page essay into 5 main AND THE ENVIRONMENT, like me, and prefer eco-friendly points: AND REDUCED products for your entire family. All of CONSUMPTION OF NATURAL a sudden, everything you’re bringing 1. LESS IN LANDFILLS. Virginians RESOURCES. A typical generate about 14.8 million tons of disposable diaper contains solid waste every year. Disposable chemicals that are linked to diapers are the third largest single asthma, allergic reactions, damage consumer item in landfills and to the immune system, nervous about 1/2 of all household waste in system and endocrine system, and a house with a child in diapers even cancer. The production of comes from disposable diapers, disposable diapers also uses 20 according to Real Diaper times more raw materials (like oil Association. I don’t know of many and tree pulp) and 2 times more other single ways to reduce water than cloth diapers (more on household waste by 50%. It also environmental impacts). If you My daughter at 8 months in one of my gives you another way to recycle; chose cloth, you can opt for favorite cloth diapers. since many moms out there sell/ natural materials like organic swap their gently used cloth , , or that are into the house is under scrutiny. Most diapers, and you can do the same sustainably harvested and have less of us know that disposable diapers once your child is potty of an impact on the environment. contribute an alarming amount to trained. You can also use cloth Plus you won’t need to worry landfills and are manufactured with a wipes to further reduce your about what’s coming into contact lot of materials and chemicals that landfill waste. with that cute little baby bum. You would not pass the eco-friendly make your own baby wipe 2. POOP BELONGS AT A can also test. According to the EPA, about 20 solution without any chemicals. billion diapers/year amounting to WASTEWATER TREATMENT more than 3.5 million tons of waste PLANT, NOT A LANDFILL. As 4. IT SAVES MONEY. Parents end up in landfills, where they take an the Community Educator at spend about $800/year on estimated 500 years to decompose HRSD, I know how important it is disposable diapers for one child, (yeah that’s a long time). But most of for human waste (and the assuming 60 diapers/week at us don’t consider alternatives to the pathogens that go along with it) to $0.25/diaper. How much money disposable diaper. Yes, there are be properly treated, and a landfill is you spend on cloth diapers more environmentally-friendly not designed for this. In fact, check depends on what type you buy, if disposable diapers out there, ones the fine print on your disposable you launder at home or pay for a that are made with more sustainable diaper package – it will tell you to flush solids down the toilet before practices and less toxic materials, but Continued on Page 3 they still ultimately end up in a landfill. So what’s an environmentally- conscious mom supposed to do? Disposable diaper companies actually instruct you to flush solid waste. Enter the cloth diaper! Now, don’t stop reading just because you read

Page 2 Volume 6, Issue 1

Continued from Page 2 closures because they are quicker Study Completed to diaper cleaning service, etc. than snaps during changes. Also, I However, you will still end up wanted a diaper that my family Assess Benefits of members and day care provider saving money over disposables, Wastewater System especially if you use them up would use, and they all liked the through potty training and for pocket diapers the best for ease of Consolidation subsequent children. Yes, you will use. With Baby #2 I’m planning on using fitted diapers with wool covers be using more water if you wash Chris Wilson, P.E. at night. A fitted diaper “fits” and them at home like I did, but if you Brown and Caldwell have an efficient washing machine closes around baby just like any other diaper, but it’s not waterproof, so and you do full loads of diapers The wastewater system in the you need a separate diaper cover. I every 2-3 days you can minimize Hampton Roads region includes city love the idea of wool because it’s your water usage. And of course, and county owned local sewer natural, antifungal, breathable, and it line dry to save on energy costs. collection systems and pumping can absorb over 1/3 of its weight in stations, as well as HRSD owned moisture before it feels wet. You can regional pipelines, pumping stations, even buy upcycled wool diaper and treatment plants. This requires covers made locally from wool fourteen different utility departments, sweaters – it doesn’t get any greener billing systems, equipment fleets, and than that! And don’t forget about management organizations, and leads reusable swim diapers. They can be to fourteen different approaches to worn under a swimsuit, but the wastewater management. Neither the patterns are so cute you will probably localities nor HRSD are in control of want them worn on their own. their own destiny with localities There are also products to help ease dependent on HRSD to maintain low system pressures to handle their flows Some examples from my cloth diaper stash. your transition to cloth. Diaper liners make it easier to dispose of solid and HRSD dependent on reduced wet weather flows from localities to 5. THEY ARE FUN! Today’s cloth waste, or you can get a diaper sprayer keep pressures low. diapers come in different styles, that attaches to your toilet to wash off solids before you put the diaper in a colors, and patterns, which makes In 2013, HRSD and the localities wet bag or pail until laundry day. Some them fun accessories to your assisted in the development of a products like liners and disposable baby’s wardrobe. Forget the pins, regionalization study implemented by inserts made for cloth diaper covers you can chose snap or Velcro the Hampton Roads Planning District may be labeled “flushable”, but PLEASE closures that make changes super Commission. easy. Even though I have plenty of don’t flush these down your toilet! These “flushable” items and others cloth diapers to use on Baby #2, I Based on the results of the wreak havoc throughout the sanitary will probably end up buying a few evaluation, the study consultant sewer system, and your attempt to be more fun prints – I just can’t help recommended that regionalization green may cause a sewage spill into the myself. would benefit the ratepayers of the environment (refer to #2 above for Hampton Roads; however, the And yes, they work. Even at night, why this is bad). localities decided not to pursue full they work. Your baby’s bum will asset transfer to HRSD. In place of look a little “fluffier” than his or The bottom line is (pun intended), if this consolidation, HRSD proposed an her cohorts in disposables, but it you talk green and live green – don’t alternative where the full cost and adds to the cuteness factor. distress over diapers. Cloth diapering is an easy way to make a big difference in responsibility of implementing the Regional Wet Weather Management Since I haven’t lost you yet, let me your environmental impact. If you think Plan would be borne by HRSD with tell you a little bit about my preferred you are ready to green your baby the localities maintaining control and types of cloth diapers. My favorite is routine with cloth, I recommend ownership of their systems. This the pocket diaper – it’s a waterproof visiting Diaper Junction, a great local approach is being evaluated by the cover with a pocket that you stuff resource to get you started. localities with a decision expected by with removable inserts that do the Read more of Sarah’s blogs on: the end of February 2014. absorbing. I prefer the Velcro Let’s Talk Green

Page 3 Regional Wet Weather Help Protect Our Waterways by Reporting Management Plan Suspected Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs)

Annual Update Please call the number listed for your locality if you observe an SSO.

This newsletter is published by: Locality During Business Hours After Business Hours HRSD Chesapeake Public Utilities 757-382-6352 757-382-3550 Communications Division P.O. Box 5911 Gloucester Public Utilities 804-693-4044 804-693-3890 Virginia Beach, VA 23471-0911 Hampton Public Works 757-727-8311 757-727-8311

Isle of Wight Public Utilities 757-365-6284 757-357-2151 For additional information, contact: Amy Seron, Editor James City Service Authority 757-229-7421 757-566-0112 (757) 460-7286 Newport News Public Works 757-933-2311 757-926-8195

[email protected] Norfolk Public Utilities 757-823-1000 757-823-1000

Poquoson Public Works 757-868-3590 757-868-3501

Portsmouth Public Utilities 757-393-8524 757-393-8561

F IND U S O N T HE W EB Suffolk Public Utilities 757-514-7000 757-514-7000

Town of Smithfield 757-365-4200 757-357-2151

Virginia Beach Public Utilities 757-385-1400 757-385-3111

Williamsburg Public Works 757-220-6140 757-220-6196

York Environmental & Development Services 757-890-3752 757-890-3773

Locality Team Participants

Chesapeake Gloucester Hampton Hampton Roads Planning District Commission HRSD Isle of Wight James City Service Authority Newport News Norfolk Poquoson Portsmouth Smithfield Suffolk Virginia Beach