Project Description

The H.L. Mooney Advanced Water Reclamation Facility-Wide Improvements Project has earned an Envision Silver Award for sustainable infrastructure. This critical infrastructure project will improve operational resiliency and levels of service, provide additional odor control and allow the plant to continue meeting regulatory requirements. The upgraded functions and main components include the plant’s new headworks facility, alkalinity system, yard valves, plant structures, equalization basins, flow metering, odor control, primary and secondary clarifiers, electrical systems, methanol system and the disinfection system.

The Mooney Facility is the treatment plant for wastewater in eastern Prince William County, the second-largest and most diverse county in Virginia. Prince William Water provides clean drinking water and reliable wastewater service to more than 380,000 residents and businesses in the community. Annually, Prince William Water treats 10.1 billion gallons of wastewater for customers throughout its system and distributes 11.9 billion gallons of drinking water.

Quotes

“The Envision Silver Award affirms Prince William Water’s commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said Calvin D. Farr Jr., P.E., General Manager/ CEO of Prince William Water. “This recognition reflects our ongoing efforts to develop infrastructure that meets current demands, strengthens community resilience and upholds environmental stewardship. Most importantly, it reflects the significant improvements we are making to the Mooney facility to better serve our customers.”

“The Envision framework was instrumental in helping to facilitate teamwork and collaboration on a complex project, bringing together a multidisciplinary team of water experts to do something impactful for the community that this Facility serves. I’m really excited that this project will serve as a role model in excellence for future projects within Prince William Water and the region.” – Zach Lenkay, Ulliman Schutte Construction, Design-Builder Manager and Lead ENV SP

“Congratulations to Prince William Water on the success of this project, as recognized by an Envision Silver award,” said Anthony Kane, President & CEO of ISI. “This recognition reflects the owner and project team’s dedication to addressing the social, environmental, and economic aspects of the project throughout design and construction using Envision principles.”

Verified Sustainability Achievements

Resource Allocation – The improvements will make a direct net-positive improvement to the watershed by treating all wastewater influent and wastewater generated onsite to a high-quality effluent. The facility will continue to produce a treated water that exceeds the state permit requirements, reducing phosphorus and nitrogen levels and improving water quality in Neabsco Creek, the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay.

For water system monitoring, flow meters, level transmitters, and water quality samplers were included in the project design. These devices, along with existing monitoring devices throughout the facility, will provide a comprehensive set of water quality and quantity data for operators to utilize in real-time.

Sustainability Leadership – Sustainability is a core value of Prince William Water and its project partners, as reflected in policies and initiatives that enhance sustainable performance. A sustainability management policy guides the project, with progress toward sustainability goals reviewed regularly in bi-weekly Envision check-in meetings. In addition, the project fostered collaboration through early interdisciplinary meetings that defined sustainability goals and maintained ongoing communication. Prince William Water, the design-build team and consultants worked together to integrate sustainability into both project design and construction. Operations and maintenance stakeholders were involved throughout the design process to leverage their experiences and ensure a smooth transition to future operations.

Plan For Sustainability – Developed early in the project, the Sustainability Management Plan sets clear sustainability goals and tracks performance across design and construction. It outlines comprehensive processes and management controls, ensuring that sustainability goals are consistently addressed, monitored and adapted. The plan is not static; it is periodically revised to incorporate project changes and continually improve sustainability performance.

Furthermore, the project was designed with careful consideration of its potential impact on external systems and aligns with sustainable development plans such as Prince William County’s Comprehensive Plan for Sanitary Sewer, Strategic Plan and Community Energy and Sustainability Master Plan.

Resilience Goals and Strategies – The project established goals and strategies to support community resilience by enhancing aging infrastructure and the facility’s ability to withstand hazards and threats. The upgrades at this facility, which is able to treat up to 24 million gallons of wastewater per day, support the commitment by Prince William Water to support regional resilience to climate change impacts.

Access, Safety and Wayfinding – An updated Emergency Response Plan outlines emergency procedures, roles, and resources, and integrates external support for optimal response. To improve safety, the facility utilizes clearly marked fire lanes, color-coded hydrants and specific signage for emergency equipment and hazardous areas. Public access is restricted outside of the Grubbs Education Center, ensuring safety with a locked perimeter fence and designated access to public facilities. These measures collectively ensure efficient emergency response, protect sensitive areas and provide public access for educational purposes.