The Noman M. Cole, Jr., Pollution Control Plant (NCPCP) in Lorton, Virginia, has been in service since 1970. Fairfax County has directed many expansion and improvement projects over the years, and, as a result, the award-winning 67-MGD facility continues to serve as a state-of-the-art model for municipal treatment plants.

Recently, we completed a major design-build improvement project that reflects the county's forward-thinking approach to conservation and the protection of the environment. This "purple pipe" project, a $15.2-million reclaimed water distribution system, enables approximately 560 million gallons of treated water from the plant to be reused each year at the nearby Covanta Energy/Resource Recovery Facility. Approximately 24 million gallons of effluent can also be distributed annually to the county's Laurel Hill Golf Course and Lower Potomac Ball Fields for irrigation.

The largest water reuse project in the commonwealth, the system reduces the amount of wastewater treated at the NCPCP and discharged into Pohick Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River. It preserves drinking water and helps protect the Chesapeake Bay.

Design and construction of the reclaimed water distribution system, which included installation of 4.6-miles of piping to transport the water, was funded in part by a grant from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It was a major team effort, involving many stakeholders and requiring more than 50 permits at the local, state, and federal level. The process also included several public meetings, during which community members consistently demonstrated their support and appreciation for the project's sustainable focus.

Our team, including the contractor M.A. Bongiovanni, Inc., brought a range of professional and technical skills to the table, included 3-D civil engineering and visualization technology. More than 120 people contributed to the process, including a few of us who have had the opportunity to work on many projects for the NCPCP over the years and other professionals who brought new ideas and technical skills to the expedited process.

A true team effort for a true green project…the NCPCP and Fairfax County continue to lead the way with progressive engineering solutions for our community.