Watershed Protection

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AlexRenew places the health of our watershed at the forefront of our operations. Our engineering experts utilize industry-leading technologies to design, operate, and maintain high-quality wastewater systems that meet the strictest environmental health standards.

Protecting the environmental health of our community is one of our most fundamental objectives. By practicing conscientious water stewardship today, we create a healthier environment for future generations.

Wastewater Treatment

Since our beginnings in 1952, we’ve taken deliberate and focused action to help restore water quality and reduce nutrients entering our local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. You see the results in our advanced water treatment facility and our latest capital improvement projects.

There are a lot of good reasons why keeping our water clean is an important priority:

• Fishing: Clean water is critical to plants and animals that live in water. This is important to the fishing industry, sport fishing enthusiasts, and future generations.
• Wildlife Habitats: Our rivers and ocean waters teem with life that depends on shoreline, beaches and marshes. They are critical habitats for hundreds of species of fish and other aquatic life. Migratory water birds use the areas for resting and feeding.
• Recreation and Quality of Life: Water is a great playground for us all. The scenic and recreational values of our waters are reasons many people choose to live where they do. Visitors are drawn to nearby waterways and water activities such as fishing, boating, biking and picnicking.
• Health Concerns: If it is not properly cleaned, water can carry disease. Since we live, work and play so close to water, harmful bacteria have to be removed to make water safe.

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Take Action

To improve the health of our watershed and local waterways, we all must do our part. Our everyday actions can have a big impact on improving the health of our watershed. By making simple changes in our lives, each one of us can take part in protecting the Potomac and restoring the Bay for future generations to enjoy.

1. Do Not Flush: When you use your toilet, shower, washing machine or dishwasher, wastewater leaves your home through pipes that connect to the sewer system. Many materials frequently flushed or poured down the drain can harm the pipes that connect to the sewer system. Basically, the only things you should ever flush down a toilet are human waste (urine and feces) and toilet paper. 
   
   Even though some products such as wipes and baby diapers claim to be flushable, they aren't. 
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   Here is a list of some things to keep out of the toilet:
   •    disposable diapers
   •    tampons and tampon applicators
   •    sanitary napkins
   •    cotton balls and swabs
   •    mini or maxi pads
   •    condoms
   •    cleaning wipes of any kind (even the ones that say “flushable”)
   •    facial tissue
   •    contact lenses
   •    bandages and bandage wrappings
   •    automotive fluids
   •    paint, solvents, sealants and thinners
   •    poisons and hazardous waste
   •    pet poop
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2. Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG): Grease in sewer pipes causes sewer maintenance problems for property owners and the city. Never pour grease in your sink drain and try to use your garbage disposal less.
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3. Unused Medications: Do not flush unused medications down the toilet. You can safely dispose of medications in the garbage, or take medications to an approved prescription drug take-back site or event.
4. Household chemicals: Follow safe and legal disposal methods of paint, motor oil and other household chemicals. 
5. Personal Care Products: Use toxic-free personal products like lotions, cosmetics and perfumes to keep toxic chemicals from washing down the drain and into our waterways.
6. Water Quality: To learn about additional ways to protect water quality in and around your home, visit our One Water partner at Alexandria City’s Protect Your Water Quality. 
7. Watershed: For further tips & how-to’s to protect our watershed, visit the Chesapeake Bay Program

Award-Winning Environmental Stewards

We’re proud of the recognition we receive for our environmental efforts and our leadership in the clean water industry:

• National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) gave AlexRenew its thirteenth consecutive Platinum Peak Performance Award for outstanding 100 percent compliance with its National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit requirements
• The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) presented AlexRenew with the 2018 NACWA Excellence in Management award. 
• Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) awarded AlexRenew the top rating in environmental stewardship, recognizing us as an Extraordinary Environmental Enterprise
• The National Environmental Achievement Award for Public Education/Outreach from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA)
• The Organizational Efficiency Through Team Work award from NACWA
• The Research and Technology Award for Enhancing Nitrogen Removal and Increase Sustainability from NACWA
• The National Recognition Award for Advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility Upgrades from the American Council of Engineering Companies
• The Project Innovation Award For Superior Achievement in Wastewater Treatment from the International Water Association
• The “Platinum Level” for highest level of commitment in Biosolids Management from the National Biosolids Partnership
• The Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association
• The NAIOP Award of Excellence for Buildings from the Commercial Real Estate Development Association for our State-of-the-Art Nitrogen Upgrade Program.
• The Excellence in Construction Award from the ABC (Associated Builders & Contractors) of Metro DC for our Nutrient Management Facility
• The NEAA Utility of the Future Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for our South Carlyle neighborhood strategy
• The Grand Award for Design from the American Academy of Environmental Engineers & Scientists for our State-of-the-Art Nitrogen Upgrade Program
• The Engineering Excellence Grand Award from the American Council of Engineering of Metro Washington for our State-of-the-Art Nitrogen Upgrade Program
• The Project Excellence Award from the Water Environmental Federation for our State-of-the-Art Nitrogen Upgrade Program