Vienna targets 2027 start for Phase 1 wastewater works after floodwall redesign
Vienna, West Virginia · Meeting date: October 14, 2026 · Published: October 15, 2026
Vienna Utility Board heard that design of its Phase 1 wastewater system improvements is complete and the project is moving through a broad permitting process. Staff project construction in the third quarter of 2027 after revising the configuration to use an existing floodwall penetration.
Key points
- Phase 1 wastewater design is complete, with railroad, US Army Corps of Engineers and right-of-way approvals still required.
- The revised layout uses an existing penetration in the floodwall rather than the earlier configuration that triggered a more difficult Corps Section 408 permit process.
- Parkersburg’s mayor has signed a no-objection letter for the plan, as the floodwall is owned by the City of Parkersburg.
- Vienna also expects its Phase 1 water-system improvements to begin construction in the second quarter of 2027, subject to permitting.
Full report
Vienna Utility Board is targeting a third-quarter 2027 construction start for its Phase 1 wastewater system improvements after redesigning the project’s interaction with a floodwall owned by neighbouring Parkersburg.
At its 14 October meeting, the board heard that design is complete and the scheme is now moving through permitting and approval processes. These include approvals involving the railroad, the US Army Corps of Engineers and rights of way.
The revised configuration is shown on the project map included with the utility’s five-year plan. Staff said the change uses an existing penetration through the floodwall. The earlier arrangement had moved the project from what was described as a routine Corps Section 404 permit into the Section 408 process, which had created difficulties in advancing the approval.
Staff said they had met with Parkersburg officials and obtained a signed no-objection letter from Parkersburg’s mayor because the floodwall is the city’s property. The letter has been sent to the Corps. While the utility had not received official confirmation that no additional correspondence would be needed, staff said they expected that to be the result of the redesign.
The wastewater scheme is one of several projects listed in Vienna’s rolling five-year plan, which staff described as an ongoing document that will continue to be updated. The plan separates projected projects into wastewater, water and stormwater programmes and includes anticipated construction timing.
The board was also told that Phase 1 water-system improvements are in permitting, with construction expected in the second quarter of 2027. Those approvals involve the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection and what staff described as more basic permitting requirements.
Separately, Vienna reported that work at the Fall Street sewer plant is complete, apart from a potential additional bypass-valve installation. Staff said a broken sluice gate currently leaves no means to shut down the plant while maintaining a bypass route, and estimated relocating and installing the valve at about $68,000. The board discussed whether that work should be added to the completed project or separately procured, but no decision was recorded.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: Vienna Utility Board, Vienna