Hampton Roads Turns 1 Billion Gallons of Sewage into Drinking Water – Chesapeake Bay Magazine

Report on the Hampton Roads Sanitation District’s SWIFT Project and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Urban Wastewater and Environmental Health

Urban wastewater discharge, particularly from antiquated systems, poses a significant threat to the ecological health of major water bodies like the Chesapeake Bay. In response, the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) in southeast Virginia has developed an innovative solution, the Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT). This project represents a paradigm shift from conventional wastewater treatment by converting highly treated wastewater into a resource for aquifer replenishment, directly aligning with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Project Overview and Strategic Objectives

The SWIFT project is a large-scale, managed aquifer recharge program. Its primary objective is to reduce nutrient pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed while simultaneously addressing regional challenges such as land subsidence and groundwater depletion. The initiative has achieved a significant milestone by successfully replenishing the Potomac aquifer with over one billion gallons of purified water.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The SWIFT project provides a powerful model for integrated water resource management and makes substantial contributions to the following SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: By treating wastewater to meet drinking water quality standards and using it to recharge the Potomac aquifer, SWIFT directly supports Target 6.3 (improving water quality by reducing pollution) and Target 6.4 (ensuring sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater).
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The project is projected to reduce nutrient discharge into Hampton Roads waterways by 90%. This drastic reduction in nitrogen (70% reduction target) and phosphorus (50% reduction target) pollution is critical for mitigating eutrophication and restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem, in line with Target 14.1 (preventing and significantly reducing marine pollution).
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Coastal Virginia faces dual threats from sea-level rise and land subsidence. By replenishing the aquifer, SWIFT helps to counteract land subsidence, thereby increasing the region’s resilience to flooding and climate change impacts, contributing to Target 11.5 (reducing the adverse effects of natural disasters). The project also enhances community infrastructure with new public trails and recreational access.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: SWIFT exemplifies the development of resilient, sustainable, and innovative infrastructure (Target 9.1). The $2.8 billion investment, supported by federal financing, showcases a forward-thinking approach to upgrading water infrastructure for long-term environmental and economic benefit.

Technological Process and Implementation

Advanced Water Purification

The SWIFT process involves an advanced, five-step treatment protocol to ensure the water quality is suitable for aquifer recharge. As described by treatment process engineer Germano Salazar-Benites, this multi-barrier process includes:

1. Initial treatment at a conventional wastewater plant.
2. Carbon filtration.
3. Reverse osmosis.
4. Ultraviolet (UV) light disinfection.
5. Advanced oxidation.

Aquifer Replenishment System

Following purification, the water is pumped into the Potomac aquifer, a vast underground water source extending along the eastern seaboard. This process addresses the issue of aquifer depletion caused by centuries of overuse.

• Replenishment wells are drilled to depths of 400 to 1,200 feet.
• The system is designed to avoid interference with existing wells or infrastructure.
• An Extensometer is utilized to monitor minute changes in ground elevation, providing data on the project’s effectiveness in mitigating land subsidence.

Project Impact and Future Outlook

Current Achievements and Expansion

The operational SWIFT facility in Suffolk has successfully reached the one-billion-gallon replenishment milestone. HRSD is expanding the program with a second, larger facility under construction in Newport News, which will have a capacity of 16 million gallons per day. The completion of these facilities will be a major step toward achieving the project’s pollution reduction goals for the Chesapeake Bay.

Investment and Research

The total project cost is estimated at $2.8 billion, partially funded by a $1.3 billion federal loan through the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program. The initiative also includes the development of a research center to facilitate further study and innovation in water treatment and aquifer management, ensuring its long-term contribution to sustainable water practices.

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 14: Life Below Water

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Target 6.3: By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution… halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally.
    
    Explanation: The article focuses on the SWIFT project, which treats sewage “until it reaches drinking-water quality” and then reuses this water by pumping it back into the Potomac aquifer. This directly addresses improving water quality, reducing pollution from wastewater, and promoting safe reuse.
  • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency… and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity.
    
    Explanation: The article notes that the Potomac aquifer “is being drained faster than it can refill.” The SWIFT project replenishes this aquifer with over a billion gallons of purified water, directly contributing to ensuring a sustainable supply of freshwater.
  • Target 6.6: By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including… aquifers.
    
    Explanation: The core purpose of the SWIFT project is to pump clean water back into the ground to replenish the Potomac aquifer, a critical underground water-related ecosystem. This is a direct action to protect and restore this resource.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
  • Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure… to support economic development and human well-being.
    
    Explanation: The article describes the SWIFT project as a major infrastructure undertaking, costing “$2.8 billion” and financed in part by a “$1.3 billion federal loan.” This is an investment in innovative, sustainable, and resilient water infrastructure to manage wastewater and protect against environmental degradation.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
  • Target 11.5: By 2030, significantly reduce… the number of people affected… by… water-related disasters.
    
    Explanation: The article highlights that coastal Virginia faces “the combination of sea-level rise and sinking land,” which results in “more flooding.” The project aims to counteract land subsidence by replenishing the aquifer, thereby increasing the region’s resilience to water-related disasters like flooding.
  • Target 11.6: By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to… municipal and other waste management.
    
    Explanation: The article identifies “urban areas with antiquated wastewater treatment systems” as major polluters. The SWIFT project is a direct response to improving municipal waste (sewage) management to reduce the environmental impact of cities on the Chesapeake Bay.
  • Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.
    
    Explanation: The article states that the Newport News plant is part of a larger project that will include “two miles of new walking trails providing public access to river views and a marina, restrooms, and a public meeting space,” directly contributing to this target.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water
  • Target 14.1: By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including… nutrient pollution.
    
    Explanation: The article explicitly states that the project will have a significant impact on the Chesapeake Bay by reducing pollution from land-based sewage treatment. It specifies that the project is “expected to reduce the total amount of nitrogen entering waterways… by 70%… and phosphorus by 50%,” which are forms of nutrient pollution.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 6.3 (Improve water quality and reuse):
  • The quality of treated water, which reaches “drinking-water quality.”
  • The percentage reduction in discharge of treated sewage into waterways, stated as a “90 percent” reduction for Hampton Roads waterways.
• For Target 6.4/6.6 (Sustainable water supply and aquifer restoration):
  • The volume of water pumped back into the aquifer, with a milestone of “more than a billion gallons” already achieved by one plant.
  • The daily replenishment capacity of new facilities, such as the “16 million gallons per day” for the Newport News plant.
• For Target 9.1 (Infrastructure investment):
  • The total financial investment in the project, which is “$2.8 billion.”
• For Target 11.5 (Resilience to water-related disasters):
  • Measurement of changes in ground elevation using an “Extensometer” to monitor and quantify the project’s impact on land subsidence.
• For Target 11.7 (Access to public spaces):
  • The length of new public access trails created, specified as “two miles of new walking trails.”
• For Target 14.1 (Reduce marine pollution):
  • The percentage reduction of nitrogen entering waterways, specified as “70% compared to 2021 levels.”
  • The percentage reduction of phosphorus entering waterways, specified as “50%.”

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: chesapeakebaymagazine.com