Staunton has completed a $13 million project to replace a 1940s-era pump station to meet the water needs of the city.
The Gardner Springs project replaces the aging infrastructure with a modern, elevated facility designed to withstand flooding, power outages and increasing demands on the water system.
The previous station was located in the floodplain and lacked sufficient backup power.
“This project was about more than just replacing old pipes and pumps; it was about guaranteeing that Staunton residents have reliable access to water, regardless of the weather,” said Dave Irvin, director of public works. “If our residents can turn on their taps without ever worrying whether there will be water, or where the water is coming from, we’re doing our jobs.”
Work began on the improvements in early 2023 in an effort to create a more resilient station.
“The engineering challenge here was unique: we had to build a robust, modern facility right next to a historic water source, while ensuring the construction process didn’t interrupt the city’s daily water supply from an aging facility that had to be kept online until the station was built,” said Michael Faulkner, senior project manager.
The city was able to offset a significant portion of the costs with a nearly $6 million grant from the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water.
Work is also under way on a one-million-gallon water storage tank that was recently hoisted 240 feet off the ground. The tower will improve water capacity in the city with a gravity-fed design which allows the tank to be filled without the use of pumps. It should be complete by next summer. The tower is funded through a $9 million Virginia Business Ready Sites Program grant from the Virginia Economic Development Partnership that helps localities prepare project-ready sites.
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Crystal Graham
