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1999 SESSION

999852753
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 385
Offered January 20, 1999
Designating Norfolk Waterworks Week and Moores Bridges Day.
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Patrons-- Walker, Lucas and Miller, Y.B.; Delegates: Jones, J.C., Moss, Robinson, Tata and Williams
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the General Assembly authorized Norfolk to build a waterworks in 1868, and the Norfolk reservoirs and water pump station were established at Moores Bridges in 1872; and

WHEREAS, in October 1899, the Norfolk Waterworks put into service one of the first water filtration plants in the southeastern United States; and

WHEREAS, throughout the 20th century, the Norfolk water system has provided the large majority of treated water for the rapidly growing population of South Hampton Roads; and

WHEREAS, the United States Navy has developed the largest naval complex in the world, using Norfolk water to build and maintain the Norfolk Naval Base, Norfolk Naval Air Station, Little Creek Amphibious Base, Oceana Naval Air Station, and Dam Neck facilities; and

WHEREAS, Virginia Beach has grown from a tiny resort city in 1924 to the Commonwealth’s largest city today, with a population of more than 400,000 people, and every drop of its municipal water supply is treated at Norfolk’s Moores Bridges Water Treatment Plant; and

WHEREAS, in 1999, Norfolk will complete its largest-ever city-managed construction project, the improvements, costing just over $100 million, to the Moores Bridges Water Treatment Plant; and

WHEREAS, this massive construction project will prepare the old facilities to meet all federal and state drinking water and environmental standards well into the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, these improvements also include expansion of the plant capacity to 108 million gallons per day in order to treat the Lake Gaston water for Virginia Beach under a 37-year bi-city contract that is a model of regional cooperation; and

WHEREAS, the Moores Bridges Water Treatment Plant has continued to provide safe and adequate drinking water to more than 500,000 Virginians, without interruption, every day throughout the four years of on-site construction; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby designate the week of October 17-23, 1999, as Norfolk Waterworks Week in recognition of the important role played by the men and women of the waterworks in Virginia’s prosperity; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the General Assembly designate October 20, 1999, as Moores Bridges Day in recognition of the 100th anniversary of this vital water treatment facility.