Renewing Systems and Culture with Asset Management: AlexRenew Boosts Operational Efficiency

Recently, AlexRenew, the wastewater authority serving Alexandria, Virginia, implemented new asset management software and modified internal processes to help modernize its operations. The upgrade is an example of what the authority’s leadership describes as a transformation of its asset management process rooted in risk and proactive maintenance.

Background

AlexRenew operates and maintains the sewage treatment system serving a population of about 300,000 for the City of Alexandria and a large portion of Northern Virginia’s Fairfax County.

Annually, AlexRenew’s state-of-the-art wastewater facility treats more than 13 billion gallons of wastewater. It sits on just under 35 acres and is designed to treat an average daily flow of 54 million gallons per day (MGD) – up to 116 MGD during wet weather events. AlexRenew also reuses water on-site to run its equipment.

AlexRenew also oversees the $615 million RiverRenew program, a massive effort to remediate a portion of Alexandria’s sewer system, which dates back to the late 1800s. The program is the largest construction project in the city’s history, and involves the remediation of four outfalls in Alexandria that currently discharge rainwater and sewage into rivers and streams during rain events. To accomplish this, crews have built a 130-ft-deep, two-mile-long tunnel system and about 2,500 ft of new interceptor pipe. AlexRenew is also making significant upgrades to its wastewater treatment plant that will allow combined sewer flows to be pumped to the surface and treated at its facilities.

Once operational, the tunnel system will prevent millions of gallons of stormwater and sewage from reaching the Potomac River and other local tributaries. Tunnel construction portion of the project is now complete and AlexRenew is currently wrapping up construction on its pump station and superstructure. The full system is expected to come online by spring of 2026.

Managing Assets

With the RiverRenew program nearing completion, and AlexRenew’s assets now approaching $2 billion, the authority has taken the opportunity to implement some new asset management initiatives.

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