New Construction Guidelines

Comprehensive Guidelines for Water and Sewer Projects

At ACSA our design and construction standards guide contractors, engineers and developers in the construction and expansion of water and sewer systems. Resources include plan review checklists, approved products lists, and specifications for water storage tanks, sewer systems and more. Follow these standards to ensure compliance and maintain high-quality infrastructure.

Important Documents

Capacity, Management, Operation, and Maintenance Program (CMOM)

Sanitary Sewer Collection System

The Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) CMOM Program is designed to efficiently manage, operate and maintain our sanitary sewer system. Covering more than 316 miles of sewer mains and multiple wastewater pump stations, the program ensures proactive wastewater management and helps prevent system failures. Through regular inspections, capacity assessments and preventive maintenance, ACSA’s CMOM Program protects public health and the environment while ensuring regulatory compliance.

Key initiatives include reducing infiltration and inflow (I&I), minimizing sewer overflows and conducting thorough sewer inspections. Additional programs such as the Fats, Oils and Grease (FOG) abatement are integral parts of ACSA’s approach to protect the sewer system. The CMOM Program also prioritizes preventive maintenance to extend the ACSA’s sewer infrastructure lifespan. By utilizing advanced technologies like CCTV sewer inspections and flow monitoring, ACSA can detect issues such as blockages, leaks and system degradation before they lead to costly repairs or service disruptions. This proactive approach helps reduce operational costs, prevent sewer backups and improve overall system reliability.

Learn more about how the CMOM Program supports long-term reliability and operational efficiency for our wastewater infrastructure by reading the full CMOM Program document below. 

CMOM Full Document
new construction blueprint; design and construction standards
fire main close up
water pipe; fire flow testing

Building Permit Reviews

For all new building permits, please submit your building permit application directly to Albemarle County and, if ACSA review is required, we will review the application as part of the County’s review process.  If you have any questions about ACSA’s review of a building permit, please click on the Contact Engineering box below to send us a message.

Fire Flow Testing Request

The ACSA understands that as part of new construction, fire flow testing may be required for Site Plan Approval and the proper design of Fire Suppression Systems. Please access the Fire Flow Testing Request Form below to submit a request for fire flow testing for your project. An ACSA staff member will contact you via email to confirm the type of test and location of the test.

Fire Flow Testing Request

Fire Main Pre-Flush and Bag Test Approval Request

Fire main pre-flushing and bag testing is required as part of the County of Albemarle inspections for a fire suppression system. Please access the Fire Main Pre-Flush and Bag Test Approval Request Form below to submit a request to ACSA for approval to conduct fire main pre-flush and bag test activities. You should submit the request at least 4 business days in advance of the planned testing. An ACSA staff member will process the request and provide an approval via email. After completing the fire main pre-flush and bag test, use the Water Usage Reporting Form below to report the volume of water used.

Please check your SPAM and JUNK folder regularly after submission of your Test Approval request in case your approval is caught by your SPAM or JUNK email filter. 

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General Engineering Questions

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