Find out about the infrastructure in Lake Monticello’s systems here.

What areas does Aqua Serve?

Our water and wastewater systems provide water to a small regional area around the Lake Monticello Community. Areas included in the Lake Monticello Owners Association (LMOA) that are shown in blue and the surrounding areas that are shown in orange that could be served by Aqua as part of a new or existing development approved by Fluvanna County.

How does Aqua address new development in our Water and Wastewater system?

Lake Monticello is part of the Rivanna Community Planning Area and only a portion of this planning area is served by Aqua Virginia. The Fluvanna County Planning and Zoning Department’s responsibilities include current planning, long range planning, and code enforcement. Aqua participates in the county’s Technical Review Committee (TRC) to determine if new projects can be served by Aqua. As a new project moves forward Aqua’s engineers work with the developer to determine if new infrastructure must be installed by the developer to mitigate impacts to the existing system.

Find out more about new development in Fluvanna County here.

Water Infrastructure Highlights 

• 1.38 mgd Regional Water Treatment Plant 
• Almost 5,500 water & wastewater connections
• 3 ground storage tanks  
• 76 miles of water main

Water Plant Intake Modification 

• Overview: Evaluate the feasibility of constructing a third process train for the water treatment plant to increase overall plant/system treatment capacity.
• Status: In process
• Schedule: Design and permitting phase construction planned for late 2025 

Cherokee Subdivision (Section 10) Transmission Main

• Overview: Design of upgraded transmission lines to increase capacity of the water main.
• Status: In process
• Schedule: Design phase underway 

Water Storage Tank Study

• Overview: Study evaluating a future elevated water storage tank to provide additional domestic pressure and fire flow capacity. The feasibility study will provide a path forward for actual design and construction of an elevated storage tank.
• Status: Study is underway, our design consultants are coordinating with Aqua on hydraulic model data and potential site locations.
• Schedule: Design will extend through 2025

Future Project Development

• Additional hydraulic modeling (tank sizing and evaluations) and review of waterline break data to identify potential waterline replacements.
• Implement study recommendations.
• Preparation of a Preliminary Engineering Report.

Wastewater Infrastructure Highlights  

• 0.775 MGD Regional Wastewater Reclamation Facility
• 54 Lift Stations
• 3K Manholes
• 1K Grinder Pumps
• 39+ Miles of Force Main
• 116+ Miles of Gravity Sewer Lines
• In 2023, Aqua completed approximately 2.5 miles of collection system rehabilitation as part of its Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Service Charge (WWISC) projects.  

Current Projects

Enhanced Remote Monitoring at Lift Stations

• Overview: Upgrading SCADA remote monitoring on lift stations. 
• Status: Five lift stations will receive remote monitoring upgrades planned in 2025. 17 lift stations have received SCADA upgrades as of October 2023.  
• The SCADA Control Panels installed to date monitor critical pump data, high sewage wet well status, lift station status, and alarm notification. Staff have been able to respond in time to resolve issues after several high wet well alarms, and no overflows have occurred at any of these sites.  
• Schedule: Ongoing   

Remote Monitoring with Smart Covers  

• Overview: Installation Smart Covers to monitor the wastewater collection system.
  • Protect the Environment by:
    • Utilizing real-time alarms to dispatch crews before over-flows occur.
    • Eliminating environmental and community impacts associated with sewer spills.
    • Identifying locations with capacity constraints to prevent future overflows.
• Status: Installed 17 Smart Covers installed with 5 additional planned for installation in 2025. 
• Schedule: Ongoing    

Odor Mitigation Projects   

• Odor Study 
  • Overview: Evaluate existing wastewater odor, Identification of potential projects to reduce wastewater odor.  
  • Status: Odor study identified potential mitigation projects to implement throughout the Lake Monticello Wastewater Collections System.   
  • Schedule: Completed 
• Air Scrubber Pilot Projects   
  • Overview: Beach 5 Lift Station is the first pilot project identified in the odor study to be completed in 2025. Future projects at Glen Burney Lift Station and at the collection box pending results of the first project.  
  • Status: Site work including pad installation completed, remote monitoring ready for installation upon equipment delivery and installation.  
  • Schedule: Ongoing  
• Lift Station Vent Filters  
  • Overview: Install active carbon filters on lift station vents to help reduce odor throughout the community. 
  • Status: Activated carbon filters have been installed on all Lift station vents in the collection system.  
  • Schedule: Completed  

Sewer Conveyance Capacity Study

• Overview: Evaluate existing wastewater conveyance capacity, mostly between Colonial Circle and the WWTP and identify future projects to increase capacity as needed. This study should identify areas for capacity related upgrades (sewer lines, manholes, pump stations.)  
• Status: In process  
• Schedule: Ongoing

Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion

• Overview: Modify the wastewater treatment plant headworks to increase plant efficiency.
• Status: In process
• Schedule: Finalizing design to begin in the fall of 2025 

Current Lift Station Upgrade and Replacement Projects  

• 302 Jefferson /Forest 400116934
• 503 Lift Station 
• Landslide 400116932 Lift Station
• South Bearwood 400116933 

Competed Lift Station Upgrade and Replacement Projects  

• Beach 5 Lift Station 
• Brassey Lift Station 
• Clubhouse Lift Station
• Kingswood Lift Station 
• Mechunk Lift Station
• Marwood Lift Station 
• Mesquite Lift Station
• Out of Bounds Lift Station
• Riverside Lift Station 

Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) project

• Overview: Rehabilitation project to inspect and repair areas were groundwater and/or surface water can or has been getting into the wastewater system. Reduction of sewer flow from I&I that could damage infrastructure and result in higher treatment costs. This I&I program will continue with future I&I reduction projects at Lake Monticello on an ongoing basis.
• Status - Since 2023 the following has been completed in the wastewater collections system: 
  • CCTV Inspection – 3.4 Miles inspected 
  • Sewer Main Lining – 2.3 Miles lined   
  • New Cleanouts – 89 cleanouts installed 
• Schedule: Scoping work for 2026. 

Stream Crossing Inspections 

• Overview: Visual field inspection of over 100 sanitary sewer outfall locations with stream crossings. 
• Status: 2025 Completed
• Schedule: 2026 inspections will start in Q4 2026  

Operation & Maintenance (O&M) Equipment

• Overview: Purchase of a Jetter Trailer and purchase a Vacuum Tank to replace the need for a third-party vendor for routine operation and maintenance.
• Status: Delivered
• Schedule: Completed

Future Project Development

• Upgrade WWTP pretreatment units
• Continued SCADA implementation
• Implement study recommendations
   

Protecting Your Water System from Winter Weather  

Winter weather and cold temperatures can wreak havoc on household plumbing. 

As we all know, winter is here, and that means it’s cold outside. While you can keep yourself warm by throwing on another jacket or blanket, it’s important to remember that your pipes don’t have the same option. The water inside them can freeze and expand, causing major problems throughout the winter season. 

Find out more about how to protect your pipes from winter weather: 

• Winter Is Freezing, But Your Pipes Don't Have to Be! Find out more here. 
• Winter Weather Is Not Match for Reliable Water. Read more here. 

Avoid Cross Connections by Getting Backflow Required Inspections  

Physical connections between the water system and your water service could be a potential source of contamination through cross-contamination or backflow where water and other substances could enter the water distribution system. The Federal Safe Water Drinking Act requires that backflow prevention devices be installed to prevent contamination of the drinking water supply.   

Find out more about preventing cross connections and backflow. Read more here. 

Protecting Your Water System from Improper Disposal of Household items  

Improper disposal of household items like flushable wipes, and fats, oils and grease into the sanitary sewer system is a leading cause of sanitary sewer overflows. This leads to blockages, sewer backups, pipes bursting, and overflows that can enter our streams and lakes. 

We Need Your Help to Solve This Problem. If our customers more responsibly dispose of household materials, we can prevent sewer system overflows.  

July 2023 -  The cylinder to the left of debris is the bubbler, the device that that tells the pump when to come on, the rags and trash in the picture prevented an accurate measurement of the water level which did not trigger our alarm.  

Here's how you can help 

• Dispose of household items in the garbage.  
• Keep fats, oils, grease from going down your sink drain and only flush toilet paper down the toilet.  
• Do not flush diapers, rags and wipes – even if they say that they are flushable.  
• Do not dispose of trash, pet waste, or dirty diapers on the beach and areas in and around the lake or near storm drains. 
• Watch our short video here. 
• Find out how to avoid costly clogs here. 
• Find out more about what not to put down the drain here. 
• Find out more about what not to flush here. 
• If you think you see a leak or spill report it.  
• If you think there is a water or wastewater problem contact Aqua at 877.987.2782, or by filling out our online form at https://www.aquawater.com/contact-us.php 
• If you think that there is something being dumped into the storm drain, contact Virginia DEQ – Harrisonburg Valley Regional Office or call 540.574.7800 
• Learn about your water and wastewater system - Attend our upcoming lunch-and-learns, LMOA Water Working Group meetings and check for project updates on our website.  

Grease Trap Inspection Program 

As business owners you can make sure your grease trap or interceptor is working correctly by making sure it is: 

• Designed, sized and manufactured to handle the expected amount of grease. 
• Installed properly, level and vented. 
• Cleaned and serviced on a frequent basis. 

Find out more about our Grease Trap Inspection Program here.