Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) has chosen Garney as the design-builder for the Nansemond SWIFT Facility, an advanced water treatment facility in Suffolk, Virginia. Garney will lead the project team, which includes Tetra Tech as the lead design engineer, Carollo Engineers specializing in advanced treatment design and MEB as a contractor partner.
This project is part of HRSD’s Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow (SWIFT), a comprehensive water reuse project that aims to reduce nutrient discharge into the Chesapeake Bay, replenish Potomac Aquifer groundwater levels, combat sea-level rise, protect against saltwater intrusion for the Chesapeake Bay and Hampton Roads region.
The Nansemond SWIFT Facility will use advanced treatment methods like biofiltration, granular activated carbon (GAC), and ultraviolet disinfection to convert wastewater into high-quality drinking water, known as SWIFT Water™. This treated water will replenish the Potomac Aquifer, eastern Virginia’s primary groundwater source, throughg 19 managed recharge wells. Strengthening the aquifer’s resilience supports local ecosystems and ensures a reliable water supply for Eastern Virginia’s businesses, agriculture, and communities.
“The new Nansemond SWIFT Facility marks the culmination of a multiphase site program,” said Lauren Zuravnsky, Director of Design and Construction for SWIFT. “It represents another key success in fulfilling our promise of reducing nutrient loads in Hampton Roads’ waterways and ensuring clean water resources for future generations.”
Garney is concurrently leading construction on multiple SWIFT projects, including the Nansemond Treatment Plant expansion to increase capacity from 37 million gallons per day (MGD) to 50 MGD, with Tetra Tech as the lead design engineer. Recently, the design-build team on the Boat Harbor Underwater Transmission Pipe Installation project, led by Garney, set a world record by pulling 5,700 ft of 42-in. pipe under the Newport News Shipping channel of the James River in just 24 hours.
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“As an organization deeply committed to our community and environment, Garney is honored to lead these critical SWIFT projects alongside HRSD,” said Chip LaBonte, Director of Plant Mid-Atlantic/Carolinas for Garney. “The new Nansemond SWIFT facility represents our shared dedication to protecting water quality.”
By 2032, SWIFT plans to replenish the Potomac Aquifer with up to 50 million gallons of SWIFT Water™ daily, greatly reducing HRSD’s discharge to local waterways. This initiative is crucial for reducing nutrient levels in the Chesapeake Bay and addressing land subsidence caused by excessive groundwater extraction, which significantly contributes to efforts to mitigate sea-level rise. The Nansemond SWIFT Facility is expected to begin operation in 2029.
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