The Heritage Center Closure project has officially kicked off a critical environmental milestone: launching interim remediation actions targeting abandoned legacy sewer infrastructure at ETTP and the Rarity Ridge Wastewater Treatment Plant (RRWTP).
This vital project addresses long-standing subsurface infiltration risks by systematically isolating historical utility lines and permanently disconnecting them from modern infrastructure.
Crews onsite are deploying durable concrete and specialized grout plugs to systematically seal abandoned sewer segments that remain linked to the active municipal collection network. This process creates an impermeable physical barrier, eliminating the risk of legacy lines acting as pathways for subsurface contamination.
This project provides several benefits, including:
- Halting infiltration: Cuts off over 1 million gallons per year of unwanted rainwater and groundwater infiltration previously overloading the RRWTP.
- Protecting regional waterways: Prevents legacy industrial contaminants from reaching active treatment systems, safeguarding both the RRWTP and the broader Clinch River watershed.
- Modernizing the footprint: Cleans up historical underground utility networks to support the continued safe redevelopment and revitalization of the Heritage Center.
By proactively neutralizing these inactive conduits today, the team is ensuring cleaner waterways and more reliable municipal infrastructure for the entire community.
