RWSA declares drought watch amid dry conditions

The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority has responded to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s declaration of a drought watch advisory with one of its own. 

“Based on the Drought Monitoring Task Force designation of our area as in a drought watch and the fact that we are having flash drought conditions of extreme temperatures, low precipitation, no precipitation really in the forecast, we want to recommend to the [RWSA] Board that we officially declare a drought watch,” said Bill Mawyer, the executive director of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. 

That signals to individuals and businesses to voluntarily conserve water, but localities are not yet asked to put in mandatory measures. 

“That occurs at the next stage which is a warning,” Mawyer said. 

The full list of drought contingencies is contained with a plan last updated in 2015. (download the plan)

The RWSA operates three reservoirs that make up the bulk of the water supply for Albemarle’s urban ring and the City of Charlottesville but Mawyer said his staff keeps the closest eye on the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. 

“We have a whole flow strategy that’s seasonal,” Mawyer said. “From May to November, we monitor South Rivanna and if it’s overflowing everything is great and we maximize use of the water in the South Rivanna Reservoir.”

Water is currently trickling over the dam rather than spilling over in large quantities which Mawyer said is an indicator of drought. That means the RWSA reduces the amount it takes from South Fork for water supply and takes more from the Observatory Water Treatment Plant which is fed by the Ragged Mountain Reservoir.

Mawyer said the forthcoming pipeline between the Ragged Mountain and the South Fork Rianna reservoirs will allow the ability for water to be transferred from the former to the latter. 

Mawyer said what is happening right now is a weather phenomenon that many may not have heard before. something called a “flash drought.” 

“Stream temperatures and low rainfall creates what [the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration] calls a ‘flash drought’,” Mawyer said. “In other literature, it starts and intensifies quickly and over a period of months it would dissipate as opposed to a conventional drought that can last for years.” 

Mawyer said DEQ’s move this week prompted his staff to put forward a recommendation to the RWSA Board at their regularly scheduled meeting in June. The adopted resolution also gives the agency the power to declare a drought warning or drought emergency if conditions worsen before the next Board meeting in July. 

The RWSA also operates the Beaver Creek Reservoir which serves Crozet and Totier Creek Reservoir which serves Scottsville. 

“Soon if we don’t have rain, all five of our reservoirs are not going to be spilling,” Mawyer said. 

Albemarle Supervisor Ann Mallek of the northwestern White Hall District said she was glad the RWSA take a proactive step. She pointed out that counties across the mountains in the Shenandoah Valley are already under a drought warning from the DEQ and those ecological systems are connected to the one where she lives. 

“We’re on the eastern slope and we are absolutely as dry as they are in the northern valley,” Mallek said. “The streams are dry and there’s not been one drop. I did all of my rain tallies and things like that and we are six inches below what we’re supposed to have in the first half of 2024. On top of the six inches below where we were supposed to be at the end of 2023.”

Mallek said people on urban water should stop watering their lawns and said anyone on wells have already stopped doing so. 

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