The Rapidan Service Authority (RSA), the water and sewer provider for Orange and Madison counties, says it can’t continue its service long term and address critical issues without raising fees, a move that has left customers feeling frustrated.
At a Feb. 6 public hearing at Locust Grove Middle School attended by dozens of residents, several people expressed concerns and lingering distrust toward RSA.
Between the August 2024 water crisis — which left Locust Grove residents without safe water for almost a week due to a “catastrophic” water pump failure — and the Virginia Health Department’s investigation accusing RSA of failing to recognize the issue sooner, trust in RSA was low among residents. There have also been notices that RSA-treated water did not meet federal drinking water quality standards as well as occasional sewer overflows that have upset residents.
“We, the people of Orange County, Virginia, have — for a long time — been cooking, drinking, and washing our clothes in contaminated water. This is not the customer’s fault. This is unacceptable,” said Barbara Constantino, a resident of Lake of the Woods, during the hearing.
But RSA says it needs funding to fix aging infrastructure, which means increasing rates.
Based on a study conducted last year, RSA has proposed water and sewer rate increases starting this year and continuing until 2029.
While increases in some service areas are smaller, residents of Lake of the Woods, a subdivision in Orange County’s Locust Grove, could see their monthly bills increase by more than 60%. RSA is proposing the increase to fund upgrades to the 13 vacuum sewer pump stations used in Lake of the Woods. This aging and somewhat unique system has been prone to overflows and, according to an engineering study conducted last year, needs replacement.
After the meeting, Tim Clemons, RSA General Manager, told Charlottesville Tomorrow that RSA cannot apply for any grants until they have an engineering plan for upgrades — and to get one, they need the money that would come from the fee increase.
He also explained that the water rate increase would fund the addition of a granular activated carbon (GAC) treatment process — a widely used method for removing chemicals from water and improving its taste and odor. It would also help lower haloacetic acid levels, which would address the EPA drinking water standards, he said.
GAC was one of the treatment methods RSA learned about in August as a potential solution that could have minimized the effects of the water contamination.
RSA will need to acquire land to house the GAC system, Clemons said, and they are currently considering several locations. But first, they need funding for engineers to develop the plan.
Overall, it’s a multi-year project. But none of these details were mentioned during the meeting.
One of the most common concerns expressed by Locust Grove residents was that the costs of improving the failing system were being passed onto them.
And, as Bryan Nicol, Orange County Supervisor, noted in his comment, RSA has already approved the budget for this year based on the assumption that the rate increase would pass.
“I’m concerned that… the RSA board will rubber-stamp the increased rates, and this public hearing will only serve to confirm the decision on the rates that you made back in December,” he said.
It’s true that the budget has been approved, RSA Chairman Mark Johnson confirmed after the public comments, but he noted that it could be adjusted. However, he emphasized that the rates were established based on study recommendations.
Nicol told Charlottesville Tomorrow after the meeting that many people in the Lake of the Woods community are on fixed incomes. While RSA’s planned upgrades are necessary, they would create a financial burden for residents.
Dave Davies, a Lake of the Woods resident and one of several speakers, asked about alternative funding sources.
“My question is, what has RSA and the county done to investigate ways to reduce or spread out the financial impact on the customers? Have you investigated state or federal funding? Have you looked into bond funding?”
In a brief response following public comments, Clemons said they were exploring state and federal funding sources. He explained that in the past, RSA paid for repairs and upgrades with cash, but they can’t continue to do so.
RSA has two more public hearings scheduled for Feb. 10 — one for the Route 15 service area and one for the Route 20 service area.
The RSA’s board is scheduled to meet Feb. 20, which is when they are expected to vote on the rate increases.
“I understand people’s impatience, I do,” Clemons told Charlottesville Tomorrow. RSA’s goal is to meet customers’ expectations for the quality of services they are paying for.
And when it comes to rebuilding trust after the August crisis, “it takes a lot of time to do it,” he said.
Take Action
Rapidan Service Authority (RSA), a water and sewer provider serving Orange and Madison Counties, is proposing to increase fees for its services as a way to cover operational costs and system upgrades. RSA is holding public hearings to discuss the rate increases; two remain in February.
- Meeting for the Route 15 service area: Monday, Feb. 10, 6:30 p.m., at the Orange County Public Safety Building, 11282 Government Ctr Dr, Orange, VA.
- Meeting for the Route 20 service area: Monday, Feb. 10, 7:15 p.m., at the Orange County Public Safety Building, 11282 Government Ctr Dr, Orange, VA.
For more information, see RSA’s notice about the proposed increases.
