AGENDA DATE: 11/5/2025
TITLE:
Miller School Extension - Private Central Sewerage System and Central Water Supply
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolution to approve the upgrade and extension of a private central sewerage system and private central water supply at The Miller School of Albemarle.
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Wall, Herrick, Tevendale, Filardo, Svoboda, Pohl
PRESENTER (S): Frank Pohl
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: As required by County Code § 16-102, The Miller School of Albemarle has notified the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of its intent to upgrade and extend an existing central sewerage system and a central water supply (Attachment A) located on Tax Parcel 07200-00-00-03200. Under County Code §§ 16-104 and 16-105, the Board is to consider this proposal and either approve or deny this request.
On August 2, 2023, the Board approved Special Use Permit (SP202200032), with conditions, to allow The Miller School of Albemarle to continue and expand the historic private school use. Since then, the Board also approved a Special Exception (SE-2025-00015) to disturb critical slopes on June 12, 2025, and an Initial Site Plan (SDP-2025-00019) was approved on June 27, 2025. The property is in the Rural Area 3 Comprehensive Plan area and is not in the Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) jurisdictional area for water or sewer services.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Infrastructure & Placemaking - Invest in infrastructure and amenities that create connection, opportunity, and well-being.
DISCUSSION: This request seeks approval to upgrade and extend the central sewerage system and central water supply to serve 22 buildings, 18 existing and 4 proposed (three dormitories and one gymnasium), on Tax Parcel 07200-00-00-03200. Although the new buildings will be constructed in phases, the systems’ improvements will be completed all at once to support all phases.
The existing water system, originally permitted by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Drinking Water in 1970, has a capacity of 22,480 GPD (Attachment A, Appendix A). The system components include three drilled wells, chlorine disinfection and corrosion control systems, pressurized and atmospheric storage tanks, backup power generators, and a distribution system. System capacity is sufficient to accommodate the four additional buildings/connections; therefore, no additional upgrades would be required other than extending the distribution system to the new buildings.
The existing sewer system, constructed in 1977, consists of septic tanks, a conventional drainfield system, and a collection system. Considering its age, the existing collection system experiences inflow and infiltration (I&I) during storm events and the capacity of the existing drainfield has diminished. Investigations of the existing system are proposed to identify and repair leaks and new primary and reserve drainfields are proposed. Furthermore, a new secondary multistep biological treatment system is proposed to treat wastewater from the existing and proposed facilities (Attachment A, Appendices B, C, D, and E). Proposed upgrades would be a substantial improvement over the existing system and reduce the potential for groundwater or surface water contamination.
County Code § 16-101(1) defines a “central sewerage system” and “central water supply” as systems “…. designed to serve three or more connections.” Further, County Code § 16-104 requires each person who proposes to establish or extend a central sewerage system or a central water supply to notify the Board of Supervisors, and the Board may approve or disapprove the proposal. Since the existing water and sewer systems each serve more than three connections, and the owner proposes extending the systems to include an additional four connections, this proposal requires Board action.
Staff reviews requests such as this for technical feasibility and for conformity with the Comprehensive Plan. Even though the Comprehensive Plan discourages central systems in the Rural Area, the County Engineer has reviewed this request and has no objections, noting that the systems would be designed and constructed to VDH standards and would be regulated by VDH.
Alternatives were not considered by the applicant. The only alternative to a central sewerage system would be to construct multiple separate systems with no more than two connections each. This would result in 11 conventional systems serving 22 total connections and would provide no benefit of scale, treatment, or maintenance/operation. The only alternative to a central water supply would be to drill eight more wells so that each well served no more than two buildings. However, this would result in the same water demand/withdraw and wouldn’t utilize existing well/system capacity. Considering this and that a single entity owns the systems, staff supports the expansion of the existing central sewerage system and water supply as the only reasonable solution to serve the school and its future growth.
Staff recommends that, if approved, the Board impose the following conditions:
1. The central sewerage system must be constructed in accord with the preliminary design summary plans and calculations (Attachment A, Appendix B).
2. Final plans and specifications are subject to County Engineer approval prior to final site plan approval.
3. Prior to issuance of any certificate of occupancy for any new building to be served by the sewerage system, the owner must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the County Engineer that the system upgrades/expansion were constructed in accord with the approved plans and specifications.
4. The Miller School of Albemarle must assume full responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the central sewerage system and central water supply.
5. The Miller School of Albemarle must annually document compliance with all state operation and maintenance requirements.
BUDGET IMPACT: There is no budget impact associated with this item.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment B) approving the upgrades and extension of the central sewerage system and central water supply, subject to the conditions herein.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Owner’s Request and Supporting Documents
B - Central Sewerage System and Central Water Supply Resolution