Fairfax Water and Vulcan Break Ground on New Reservoir
Lorton, Virginia - Vulcan Materials Company and Fairfax Water joined representatives of Fairfax County to formally break ground on the development of a future reservoir near Lorton, Virginia, Sept. 27.
The groundbreaking followed a formal ceremony at the Frederick P. Griffith Jr. Water Treatment Plant near Occoquan. Participants included Chairman Sharon S. Bulova, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Philip W. Allin, Chairman of the Fairfax Water Board of Directors; and Tom Carroll, Vulcan Material's Director of Business Development.
"This groundbreaking today is not just a massive construction project, it is peace of mind for generations to come," Allin said. "It means knowing that, no matter how fast the population grows or how big it gets, Fairfax Water will have the means to provide drinking water to its customers."
The reservoir will be developed in two stages. The northern part of the quarry will begin to be filled with water by the end of 2035 after quarry operations cease in that portion of the property. The remainder of the quarry will begin filling at the end of 2085 after quarry operations cease entirely.
The project involves a phased conversion of Vulcan’s quarry in Lorton to a Fairfax Water reservoir ultimately capable of holding up to 17 billion gallons of water. This new reservoir will be used to supplement water supply to accommodate population growth in Northern Virginia.
Fairfax Water and Vulcan signed the agreement October 25, 2016, after more than 16 years.