Weeks of dry weather have resulted in lower than normal river and reservoir levels. Consequently on Wednesday, October 11, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council authorized implementation of mandatory water restrictions, which went into effect on Thursday, October 12.
Drought recovery may take several months, depending on the amount of rain we receive and the severity of the dry conditions in the watershed. To sustain acceptable levels in the water supply, mandatory restrictions for all Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) customers include a number of conservation activities like irrigation, washing vehicles and pavement surfaces, operating decorative fountains, and serving water in restaurants. A full list of restricted activities can be found at ACSA’s website.
Albemarle County takes our organizational value of stewardship and the protection of our natural resources very seriously. We support innovative initiatives to protect the natural resources of the County, and we are committed to being a leader in environmental stewardship and energy conservation through continuous education of ourselves and the public. We have implemented water conservation strategies long before this drought. For example, as we renovate we install low-flow fixtures in restrooms and replace tile floors with carpeting to reduce the need for water for mopping.
In addition to those conservation strategies we already have in place, in specific response to this drought warning, Albemarle County has:
We encourage you to make note of the mandatory water restrictions and conserve water both at work and at home. We can all help by being mindful of water use during our daily activities:
For more information on the water warning and to learn how you can support water conservation efforts, please visit www.serviceauthority.org.
