Water Pollution Control Plant Solids Master Plan

At the Water Pollution Control Plant, our main goal is to protect public health and the environment. We’ve done amazing things with the master plan upgrades that were developed in 2001 and completed in 2011.

The plant upgrades have provided for aggressive removal of nutrients and greatly reduced the potential for negative environmental impacts to the Chesapeake Bay. With the previous upgrades focusing on liquid treatment, we are now initiating new upgrades for the solids generated during the water reclamation process.

Main Goals of Master Plan

The Solids Master Plan was completed in 2018 and it identified recommended options for the modernization of plant facilities (solids treatment), while creating opportunities for sustainability and resource recovery. The projects identified through the Solids Master Plan are now being implemented through the Arlington Re-Gen program.

The main drivers of the plan were to:

• Replace aging infrastructure–identify immediate and long-term needs.
• Weigh the possibility of regulatory changes with other criteria to determine treatment options.
• Make better use of valuable resources.
• Perform cost and risk analyses.
• Select long-term solids treatment solution and prepare capital funding program.

Public Process

As part of the Solids Master Plan process, the County partnered with Arlington residents representing civic associations, environmental groups, and community organizations to form a Biosolids Advisory Panel. The panel continues to engage in activities and provide feedback on processes related to the Arlington Re-Gen program. For the latest updates from the Biosolids Advisory Panel, please visit the Arlington Re-Gen website. Past materials are archived below.

Solids Master Plan Project Documents

• Department of Environmental Quality FAQs
• Fact Sheet: Water Pollution Control Plant Solids Master Plan
• Frequently Asked Questions: Water Pollution Control Plant Solids Master Plan
• Technical Memorandum 4.4: Air Emissions Monitoring Report
  • Air Emissions Monitoring Report and Appendix A-H; J
  • Air Emissions Monitoring Report Appendix I
  • Revised Table 1-2: Summary of Estimated Potential Emissions in Tons per Year, with all scenarios shown
• Solids Master Plan: Executive Summary
• Summary of Public Comments and Staff Responses (June 2018)

Re-Gen Program

Learn how the Arlington Water Pollution Control Plant plans to turn its solids processing facilities into a state-of-the-art operation to capture renewable energy and a nutrient-rich soil additive.