Moores Creek facility repairs may cause temporary odors
For immediate release
November 5, 2026
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) wants to alert residents near the Moores Creek Advanced Water Resource Recovery Facility to potential odor concerns over the next two weeks as infrastructure work takes place in the site's holding ponds.
Background
The Moores Creek Advanced Water Resource Recovery Facility, located at 695 Moores Creek Lane, was built in 1958 and expanded in 1981. It treats 9.3 million gallons of wastewater each day, sourced from the City of Charlottesville, the county’s immediate urban ring around the city, and Crozet. It is one of four wastewater treatment facilities operated by RWSA and treats 98% of the wastewater processed daily.
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The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, removing excess nutrients and contaminants before discharging the treated wastewater into Moores Creek. The Department of Environmental Quality regulates the process through a discharge permit.
Infrastructure work
Over the last 18 months, the Moores Creek facility has undergone substantial structural and concrete rehabilitation work on its equalization basins, holding ponds, primary clarifiers, influent box, digester complex, and open-sided storage buildings. The work has included specialty coatings for steel and concrete infrastructure, as well as crack, spall, and joint repairs.
In recent weeks, work has shifted to the facility’s holding ponds. These basins help manage wastewater when inflows exceed the plant’s capacity during high-flow events. Wastewater is temporarily stored until flows subside, then diverted back into the treatment process.
As part of the work, crews will completely drain a basin on the plant’s western side and remove settled solids to complete concrete restoration. Exposing the solids may increase odors from the plant.
Anticipated duration
The bulk of the solids clearing is expected to take place over the next two weeks. Once the solids are removed, odor concerns should diminish quickly.
About the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority & Solid Waste Authority’s mission is to serve the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA communities by providing high-quality water and wastewater treatment, refuse, and recycling services in a financially responsible and sustainable manner.
RWSA provides wholesale water and sewer services to the Charlottesville Department of Utilities and Albemarle County Service Authority.
RWSA manages five reservoirs, nine dams, six drinking water treatment plants, five finished water pumping stations, eleven water storage tanks, four wastewater treatment plants, and nine wastewater pumping stations.
In 2025, RWSA processed an average of 10.25 million gallons of drinking water and 9.47 million gallons of wastewater each day.
