title
To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $32,850,421.50 from the Virginia Department of Health and to amend the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Water Utility Budget, which appropriated the estimated receipts of the water utility, by increasing estimated receipts and the amount appropriated for the water utility by $32,850,421.50 for the purpose of funding the “Media Filter Upgrades project” at the City’s water treatment plant.
body
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. That the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, is authorized to accept funds in the amount of $32,850,421.50 from the Virginia Department of Health for the purpose of funding the “Media Filter Upgrades project” at the City’s water treatment plant.
§ 2. That Article I, Section 12 of Ordinance No. 2026-063, adopted May 11, 2026, which adopted the Water Utility Budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, be and is hereby amended by increasing the estimated receipts of the water utility and the amount appropriated for expenditures of the water utility by $32,850,421.50 for the purpose of funding the “Media Filter Upgrades project” at the City’s water treatment plant.
§ 3. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.
DATE: November 5, 2026 EDITION: 1
TO: The Honorable Members of City Council
THROUGH: The Honorable Danny Avula, Mayor
THROUGH: Odie Donald II, Chief Administrative Officer
THROUGH: Tanikia S. Jackson, DCOA for Finance and Administration
THROUGH: Megan Quinn, Director of Budget and Strategic Planning
THROUGH: Scott Morris, Director, DPU
FROM: Billy Vaughan, Deputy Department Director, Senior, DPU
Eric Whitehurst, Deputy Department Director, Senior, DPU
RE: Virginia Department of Health FY26 Virginia Department of Health Water Treatment Plant Grant Ordinance to accept funds in the amount of $32,850,421.50 from the Virginia Department of Health for the purpose of funding the Media Filter Upgrades project at the City’s water treatment plant.
ORD. OR RES. No. ______________
PURPOSE: To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to accept funds in the amount of $32,850,421.50 from the Virginia Department of Health and to amend the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Water Utility Budget, which appropriated the estimated receipts of the water utility, by increasing estimated receipts and the amount appropriated for the water utility by $32,850,421.50 for the purpose of funding the “Media Filter Upgrades project” at the City’s water treatment plant.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities is undertaking a comprehensive upgrade of the Water Treatment Plant’s (WTP) 22 gravity filters across Plant 1 and Plant 2. The project follows findings from the 2020 Filter Evaluation Report, which identified aging equipment, media condition, and system reliability concerns. This Technical Memorandum documents existing conditions and outlines the scope and design basis for the Filter Upgrades Project.
1. Filter Media & Trough Replacement
Both treatment trains will receive:
• Replacement of all filter media due to age and useful life, reduced depths, and excessive solids retention.
• New wash water troughs to modernize backwash hydraulics and improve filter performance.
2. Instrumentation & Controls Upgrades
All filter instrumentation has is near or at its useful life and will be replaced, including:
• Effluent flow meters (Plant 1 venturis replaced with magnetic flow meters; Plant 2 mag meters replaced in-kind).
• Differential pressure transmitters (head loss monitoring).
• Ultrasonic level switches.
• Replacement of Hach turbidimeters with Rosemount Clarity II units.
• Updated SCADA integration and installation spacing to reduce risk of leak-related equipment damage.
3. Valve, Gate, and Actuator Replacements
• Any actuators not already replaced will be replaced with Beck Electric Actuators, except where recently installed.
• Plant 2 hydraulic actuators (BWS, BWW, FTW valves) will be fully converted to electric operation.
• Existing PLC control logic will be retained; only the actuation hardware is replaced.
4. Air Scour System Improvements
• Replacement of blowers and associated electrical components.
• Electrical upgrades to MCC-3, integration of VFDs, and structural modifications to support new blower configurations.
Overall Purpose
These upgrades aim to:
• Restore filtration performance and regulatory reliability.
• Replace aging, maintenance-intensive equipment.
• Improve backwash performance and reduce turbidity spikes after ripening.
• Enhance operational resilience through blower redundancy and modern instrumentation.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH: VDH is conducting public meetings as required by the General Assembly and the City is an active participant in the work group meetings.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES AND OTHER GOVERNMENTAL: None.
FISCAL IMPACT: DPU’s Water Utility Enterprise Fund revenues will be increased by
$32,850,421.50
DESIRED EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon adoption.
REQUESTED INTRODUCTION DATE: November 9, 2026
CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING DATE: December 14, 2026
REQUESTED AGENDA: Consent
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development Standing Committee (November 18, 2026)
AFFECTED AGENCIES: Department of Public Utilities, Department of Budget and Strategic Planning, Department of Finance
RELATIONSHIP TO EXISTING ORD. OR RES.:
ATTACHMENTS: City of Richmond/Virginia Department of Health MOU (aatf)
STAFF: Billy Vaughan, DPU, 804-646-5232