Easements - HRSD

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About HRSDHampton Roads Sanitation Districtwas created by public referendumin 1940 to eliminate sewage pollutionin the tidal waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Apolitical subdivision of the Commonwealth ofVirginia, HRSD serves 17 cities and counties ofsoutheast Virginia, an area of over 3,100 squaremiles with a population of 1.6 million.HRSD protects public health and the environmentby treating the wastewater generated by homes,businesses, and military installations throughoutthe region. This wastewater is conveyed toHRSD’s 13 treatment plants through a complexsystem of pipelines. Once constructed, thesepipelines must be routinely maintained andserviced, as well as rehabilitated or replacedwhen necessary.About this publicationEstablishing and maintaining HRSD’s intricateand growing interceptor system is made possiblethrough an accompanying system of land stripscalled easements. For many people, their firstexperience with an easement occurs when apipeline is installed in their immediate neighborhood.HRSD has produced this publication toanswer the most frequently asked questionsabout easements.Sometimes it takes a long time to constructa pipeline. Why?Many factors affect construction time. Thelength and size of the pipe, the type of soil,the presence of large trees, weather conditions,time of year, permit restrictions, ongoing fieldreviews by state and federal agencies, noiseand safety considerations, and the degree ofrestoration to the affected area can all makea difference. We see to it that every job iscompleted in a timely fashion, but will notsacrifice safety, sound engineering, or long-termenvironmental considerations for a short-termgain.What happens after construction?Once a pipeline is in place, it is covered with soiland the land is graded back to its original level.Wet areas, lawns, and frequently mown areasare reseeded with the most appropriate grassmixture.I’m buying a house. How canI find out if there is an HRSDeasement on my property?The sale of an existing house requires a titlesearch, which will reveal any rights-of-way orother easements on your property.
When a pipeline is installed,why is there a need for a largearea filled with equipment, soil,and machinery? Are such areas includedin the easement?Our work sites often consist of two areas –easements and adjacent temporary constructionstrips known as temporary construction easements.Construction strips are areas usedtemporarily for materials and equipment storage,access to the work area, and interim placementof the earth removed from the pipeline trenches.When our work is finished we restore constructionstrips as near to their original condition as isreasonably possible and have no future rightto them.The size of construction strips varies accordingto the size of the project. Major projects needconsiderable space to accommodate largepieces of equipment.What is involved in the processof building sewer lines?The first step is determining that a pipelineis necessary. This decision is based upon thecommunity needs of our rapidly growing area.Once the need for more sewer lines has beenestablished, HRSD works with local officialsand the public to determine the best approach.The early stages of the planning process includesurveying the area and identifying all relevantpermits and their requirements. Alternativepipeline routes are evaluated based onengineering, economic, and environmentalneeds, and on public input. A thorough environmentalreview is conducted, and the bestalternative chosen and approved. Once thisplanning process is complete, the pipeline isdesigned and easements acquired. Then actualconstruction can begin.What exactly are easements?Land or real property is often described as a“bundle of rights.” These rights include rightof control, right of possession, right of enjoyment,right of disposition, and right of exclusion.Right-of-way or easement acquisitions arepurchases of one part of the bundle of rightsheld by a property owner. HRSD acquires theright to enter the property, to install an undergroundpipeline, and to operate and maintainthe pipeline in a safe and environmentallyresponsible manner.Easements give the right of access – not ownership– to specific parcels of land. Governmententities such as HRSD, as well as private utilitiessuch as electric and gas companies, acquireeasements on strips of land to install, operate,and maintain utilities that serve the public.HRSD’s easements give us the right of access,both now and in the future, to the pipelinesthat serve our region. This access makes itpossible both to construct pipelines and tocare for them properly.How does HRSDacquire easements?Once a project’s route has beenchosen, HRSD’s representative approaches theproperty owners along that route to discussacquiring the necessary easements. Our agentswork with the owners as we attempt to resolveany special concerns. For example, we strive toprotect special trees or shrubs. Also, wheneverpossible from an engineering point of view,we locate easements along the edges ofproperties. The property owners and HRSDthen enter into a formal agreement that givesHRSD the right of access to that part of theproperty designated as an easement.
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Easements - HRSD

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