AlexRenew | ALXnow

AlexRenew proposes 5% rate hike for FY2026, 5.7% for FY2027

Published April 23, 2025 at 7:32PM

AlexRenew Proposes Fiscal Year 2026 Budget and Two-Year Rate Adjustment (via AlexRenew)

AlexRenew is proposing a $258.3 million budget for fiscal year 2026, along with a two-year rate adjustment to fund ongoing infrastructure investments, including the RiverRenew program.

The wastewater treatment authority plans a 5.0% rate increase beginning July 1, 2025, followed by a 5.7% increase starting July 1, 2026. For the average residential customer using 4,000 gallons of water monthly, this translates to approximately $2.76 more per month in the first year and an additional $3.31 per month in the second year.

News

Council to consider moving dozens of city staff to AlexRenew headquarters

By James Cullum

Published June 25, 2024 at 3:30PM

AlexRenew headquarters (via Alexandria Renew Enterprises/Facebook)

City Council will consider a lease agreement tonight to move a portion of the Department of Transportation and Environmental Services to a 5,600-square-foot office space at AlexRenew Headquarters.

The city’s wastewater authority at 1800 Limerick Street finished construction of its headquarters in 2016, and was designed for expansion on the fifth floor.

News

Alexandria to declare local holiday for boring machine

By Vernon Miles

Published March 27, 2024 at 10:55AM

Hazel, the tunnel boring machine for AlexRenew's RiverRenew Tunnel Project, is named after environmental activist Hazel Johnson. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Anyone who goes to City Council meetings knows there’s a long list of proclamations and recognition of various holidays, but there’s a new one on the docket for next week: Hazel the Tunnel Boring Machine Day.

A proclamation scheduled for the meeting on Tuesday, April 2, recognizes April 13 as a local celebration of the machine that did the heavy lifting for RiverRenew project.

News

Milestone reached with 2.2-mile underground sewer tunnel completion in Old Town

By James Cullum

Published March 15, 2024 at 11:00AM

Hazel, the tunnel-boring machine, has completed the 2.2-mile RiverRenew tunnel through Old Town (via AlexRenew)

After 16 months of digging, Hazel the tunnel-boring machine can rest.

Alexandria’s massive RiverRenew Tunnel Program reached a critical milestone on Wednesday with the completion of a 2.2-mile underground tunnel that will divert millions of gallons of raw sewage from flowing into the Potomac River every year.

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Alexandria won’t meet 2025 RiverRenew Tunnel Program deadline and needs another year

By James Cullum

Published January 5, 2024 at 9:30AM | Updated January 6, 2024 at 3:41AM

A Dec. 21 AlexRenew graphic showing progress in its massive RiverRenew tunnel-boring project (via Facebook)

(Updated at 1 p.m.) Alexandria won’t meet its state-mandated July 2025 deadline to complete its massive RiverRenew Tunnel Program, and two local members of the Virginia General Assembly will introduce bills this month extending the deadline by a year.

Virginia Senator Adam Ebbin (D-30) and Delegate David Bulova (D-11) are planning to introduce bills extending AlexRenew’s deadline to July 2026.

News

Alexandria utility launching new bill assistance program early next year

By Vernon Miles

Published December 21, 2023 at 9:55AM

AlexRenew headquarters (via Alexandria Renew Enterprises/Facebook)

Alexandrians struggling to pay their sewer bill might have some relief next year.

AlexRenew, the city’s wastewater authority, said in a release it’s launching a charity-funded emergency bill assistance program called Lifeline Emergency Assistance Program (LEAP).

News

Alexandria dedicates massive RiverRenew Tunnel Boring Project

By James Cullum

Published July 14, 2022 at 2:15PM | Updated July 14, 2022 at 3:47PM

Mayor Justin Wilson christens Hazel, the tunnel boring machine for AlexRenew's RiverRenew Tunnel Project, July 14, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

It moves at a snail’s pace, but Alexandria’s tunnel boring machine is ready to drill through 100-foot-deep soil to prevent millions of gallons of combined sewage from flowing into the Potomac River, Hooffs Run, and Hunting Creek.

On Thursday, Alexandria’s leaders were on-hand for the unveiling and dedication of AlexRenew’s RiverRenew Tunnel Project. The $454.4 million project is the largest infrastructure project in the city’s history, and will result in a 12-foot-wide, two-mile-long waterfront tunnel, which will divert approximately 120 million gallons of sewage every year.

News

Alexandria’s massive RiverRenew Tunnel Project to be dedicated/unveiled next week

By James Cullum

Published July 6, 2022 at 2:15PM

Alexandria leaders will be on-hand on Thursday, July 14, for the unveiling and dedication of AlexRenew’s RiverRenew Tunnel Project.

The $454.4 million project will replace Old Town’s 19th century combined sewer system with a tunnel system, sewer infrastructure and improvements to AlexRenew’s wastewater treatment plant — all to prevent 130 million gallons of combined sewage from flowing from four outfalls into the Potomac River every year.

News

Senator Kaine and Congressman Beyer tour RiverRenew Tunnel Project in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published March 18, 2022 at 1:00PM | Updated March 19, 2022 at 3:28AM

U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine (in the center) and Rep. Don Beyer (on the right) tour the RiverRenew Tunnel Project, March 18, 2022. (staff photo by James Cullum)

Virginia Senator Tim Kaine and Congressman Don Beyer (D-8th) took a quick break from work in Washington today (March 18) for a tour of Alexandria Renew Enterprises’ RiverRenew Tunnel Project.

The $454.4 million project will replace Old Town’s combined sewer system to prevent 120 million gallons of combined sewage from flowing into the Potomac River every year. The project is partially funded through a $321 million loan from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act and $50 million from the American Rescue Plan Act.

News

ALXnow’s top stories this week in Alexandria

By James Cullum

Published October 1, 2021 at 3:30PM | Updated October 1, 2021 at 4:01PM

It was a busy fall week in Alexandria. Here’s the rundown.

Our top story this week was on a plan to completely close off the 100 block of King Street as a pedestrian-only zone. The plan has been in the works since 2019, and was put into action last year. ALXnow’s poll on the subject had very one-sided results, showing 91% (791 votes) in favor of a permanent change.

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AlexRenew breaks ground for massive Old Town RiverRenew project

By Vernon Miles

Published September 30, 2021 at 3:30PM

Officials break ground at the RiverRenew project (staff photo by Vernon Miles)

The groundbreaking for AlexRenew’s RiverRenew Tunnel Project was about as Alexandria as events get. The event was a who’s-who of current and former officials, complete with bagpipes, a poem about local sewage presented by the Town Crier, and even a cartoon mascot representing the boring machine getting ready to drill the largest infrastructure project in the city’s history.

The smiles and enthusiasm from city and state officials and organizations like the Potomac Riverkeeper Network were a marked departure from the occasionally contentious process that led to the $454.4 million RiverRenew project. Plans include replacing Old Town’s combined sewer system with a new sewer structure that will prevent 120 million gallons of combined sewage from flowing into the Potomac River.