For more than a decade, we’ve supported Goochland County, located in central Virginia, in its short- and long-term planning needs, including the development of its first utility master plan in 2015. Building on that project, we’ve implemented strategies to address needed system improvements, optimize system operations, and provide updates to its master plan five years after the first one was produced. In recent years, we’ve continued to provide hydraulic and transient analysis, asset management, and critical linear infrastructure improvements, among other professional services.

As a transitional suburb of Richmond, Goochland County’s east side is suburbanized, while the west side is rural and has limited utilities. The largest piece of infrastructure that the county owns and operates is its Eastern Goochland Sewage Pumping Station and force main. This system conveys sewage over 10 miles, from the suburban area of the county and neighboring Henrico County to the city of Richmond’s pump station or Henrico sewer system and treatment plants via a 48-inch diameter force main.

Over the years, numerous breaks have occurred on the first two-mile section of the force main resulting in sewer overflows, emergency response, and negative impacts to the community. The most recent failure occurred in July 2021, resulting in a significant release of sewage. Given that this rupture impacted not only the water system, but also forced a shutdown of recreational activities on the James River during peak summer months, the county needed an expedited, long-term solution.

Because sliplining is a trenchless installation technique, and therefore noninvasive, we were able to eliminate significant impacts to the surrounding neighborhoods and reduce overall project costs." Paul Longo and Richard Kincheloe

Using Our Understanding of the Utility System to Provide Timely Solutions

Following the rupture, we were able to use the existing model hydraulic analysis of the Eastern Goochland Pump Station system that we created for its master plan. In doing so, we identified and evaluated alternatives for rehabilitation and/or replacement of the first 11,000 linear feet of the 48-inch diameter fiberglass reinforced pipe (FRP) force main. The goal was to provide a 75-year solution, while maintaining the projected flows through 2045. Our team provided an analysis of the existing force main’s condition along with five proposed improvement alternatives, cost estimates for each of the alternatives, and recommendations for repairs.

Limiting Impacts to the Neighbors

After providing the analysis and proposed improvement alternatives, we were selected to deliver the rehabilitation/replacement design, construction management services, and citizen engagement for the project. The solution involved pressure-pipe sliplining of the existing 48-inch pipe, with new 42-inch, high density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe. Because sliplining is a trenchless installation technique, and therefore noninvasive, we were able to eliminate significant impacts to the surrounding neighborhoods and reduce overall project costs.

Following substantial completion in July of this year, the fully functional 42-inch HDPE pipe should last over 75 years and eliminate the significant impact that consistent failures have caused the county and its residents over the past 20 years.