What lies beneath Central Virginia Training Center concerns county officials nearly as much as what stands aboveground.
The cost to fully replace the center’s aging water and sewer lines may be as high as $14.1 million, based on a report that Public Utilities Director Dan French presented earlier this month at an Amherst County Service Authority meeting.
CVTC is slated for closure by 2020, and whether the property would come under the ownership of a public or private entity after its scheduled closure is still unknown.
According to the report, conducted by Hurt & Proffitt, the $14.1 million estimated cost would bring the center’s water and sewer facilities up to regulatory standards. “A large portion” of water and sewer lines at CVTC were installed in the early half of the 20th century, states a summary within Hurt & Proffitt’s report. At 50 to 75 years old, those lines now are approaching their useful life expectancy.
The study notes that CVTC’s system has two public water connections — one located at River Road and a backup connection on Colony Road in Madison Heights.
The pipes’ composition may include ductile and cast iron and copper. The study notes corrosion buildup as a concern.
“Some or all of the water lines and components may need upgrades to meet ACSA standards as well as the Virginia Department of Health regulations for water systems,” the report states.
According to French, “the large volume of utilities on site are not in good shape” and will need upgrades or replacement.
Most of the water and sewer facilities have “gone past their life expectancy,” he said. In addition, some lines have broken and need repairs in the last few years.
French said he informed the service authority board at an earlier occasion of inadequate fire flows to an occupied building because of a buildup of rust inside the pipe. While that pipe has since been cleaned, “it’s a very temporary fix. It’s going to rust up again,” French said.
In addition, there have been at least three “significant” sewer line stoppages within the last five years because of apparent root intrusions, he said.
“These are a lot of unknowns that we don’t have any information on,” French said.
The $14.1 million estimate is “just a starting point” based on sewer and water lines that are known to exist, “and there may be others,” French said. Because of those uncertainties, the estimate may be higher, he said.
“The purpose of all this is not — please understand — is not to discourage the board in seeking any opportunities because with challenges, I know opportunities will still arise,” French said. “But when you face those challenges and you look for those opportunities, it’s critical your eyes be wide open to all of the liabilities, because you’ve got to try to figure out what the assets are and what the liabilities are, and figure out if it’s worth doing anything.”
Contact Sherese Gore at (434) 385-3357 or sgore@newsadvance.com.
Article courtesy of The News & Advance
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