Contractors working on a new waterline from Ragged Mountain Reservoir to a water treatment plant on Observatory Hill will use blasting three times this week to clear the way. The work will be done in a wooded area on University of Virginia property between Hereford Avenue and Fontaine Avenue.
“Blasting is needed to help break and excavate rock more efficiently,” reads an information release sent out by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority on Friday. “All work has been carefully and conservatively designed by RWSA’s consultant engineer to protect property.”
The State Fire Marshal must issue a permit for this work to take place.
The first blast was scheduled to be held Monday with the rest happening on Wednesday and Friday. Crews drill into the ground to set the charges and heavy mats are placed on the ground to stop debris from flying into the air.
“Prior to each blast, a localized siren will go off to signal the impending detonation,” the release continues. “Each blast may generate a sound level up to 120 decibels and cause minor localized ground vibrations.
The entire project consists of a four mile pipeline and pump station that will initially be capable of transferring ten million gallons a day (MGD). When a waterline between Ragged Mountain and the South Fork Rivanna reservoirs is completed, the Observatory WTP will be able to receive 16 MGD.
To learn more about the project, visit the RWSA’s website. Other government entities could learn a lot from how RWSA communicates the status of projects.
Before you go: This story was first published in the August 18, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement and posted here on this archive website the next day. There are a lot of thoughts about distributing this all differently, but for now it is what it is. For a very vague pitch on how to support the work, take a look here.
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