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Certificate to Operate & Flow Acceptance Letter
A Certificate to Operate (CTO) is issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality Tidewater Regional Office, 5636 Southern Blvd, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 that authorizes operation of a sewage system. The CTO is the final culmination in the Flow Acceptance Process.
Gravity flow ≥ 2,000 gpd | AND | Pumpstation ≤ 25 gpm |
OR | Gravity flow > 40,000 gpd (129 lots) | |
OR | Pump station > 25 gpm* |
*If a pump station connects directly to existing force main, a Flow Acceptance Letter is required.
If gravity flow < 2,000 gpd, a Flow Acceptance Letter is NOT required.
If a Flow Acceptance Letter is required, then a Certificate to Construct (CTC) and subsequently a Certificate to Operate (CTO) are required.
CTO – If the project requires a CTC, then a CTO is required.
Flow Acceptance Process:
Consultant submits construction plans to Department of Development & Permits (DD&P), Mr. Mark Curry, Development and Engineering, 306 Cedar Road, Chesapeake, VA 23322.
AND
- Consultant completes the HRSD Flow Acceptance Request Form and submits to Department of Public Utilities (DPU).
- DD&P distributes plans to DPU for review and comment.
- DPU can concurrently submit construction plans to HRSD [When is HRSD approval required?] and DPU requests Flow Acceptance Letter from HRSD.
- HRSD provides Flow Acceptance Letter to locality (DPU) and DEQ.
- HRSD reviews plans and hydraulic model, if required, and provides comments to DPU.
- Consultant submits Application for Certificate to Construct (CTC) to DEQ.
- Locality (DD&P) approves construction plans.
- DPU provides Flow Acceptance Letter to DEQ.
- DEQ issues a Certificate to Construct (CTC).
- Consultant submits the Application for Certificate to Operate (CTO) to Development Construction in DD&P in order for the “Statement of Completion” section to be executed. DD&P will then forward the Application to DEQ.
- DEQ issues a Certificate to Operate (CTO).
HRSD review and approval of construction plans is separate from any flow acceptance requirements and required whenever there is a proposed connection to an HRSD line or construction requires a contractor to work near an HRSD main (crossings and working in close proximity). See notes and details to be included on construction plans on HRSD Development Services webpage.
DEQ Approval – DEQ will issue the CTC and CTO upon application. As of 2008, DEQ no longer performs a separate review of the engineering plans.