Developer Projects l Municipal Projects l Large Municipal Projects l Special Projects

Cape Charles, Virginia

In 1998, developer Richard S. “Dick” Foster purchased 1,700 undeveloped acres in Cape Charles, Virginia, along the rustic Eastern Shore of Chesapeake Bay. He envisioned a beautiful new housing and commercial development as a “get-away” location for the 28.5 million people that lived within easy driving distance.

However, Foster faced the enormous challenge of installing a new sewer system in a coastal community. Cape Charles, like many low-lying seaside areas, has a high water table and sandy soil. Installing a gravity sewer system would require many lift stations, extensive and deep excavations, significant dewatering and the importing of special backfill.

“For a developer, a good sewer infrastructure is like a good foundation for a house,” explained Foster. “You always want to put in the best foundation you can.”

Foster found a perfect solution in AIRVAC. With AIRVAC’s vacuum sewer technology, many lift stations were eliminated resulting in additional lots available for homes. The collection lines were buried with minimal excavation in trenches 2-4 feet deep. This minimized construction costs as reduced disruption to the environment. And, the completely closed vacuum system does not allow leaks that might endanger the sensitive environment of the Chesapeake Bay.

Foster’s new Bay Creek development is now thriving, and the original AIRVAC system continues to be expanded to accept more homes.

This article appeared in the July, 2005 issue of Land Development Today.   If you would like to read the entire story as it appeared in the magazine, you can download a pdf, or you may request hard copies.

Return to Private Developer projects page.