CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority (RWSA) has officially lifted a drought watch for the Albemarle County and Charlottesville public drinking water service area.
The Rivanna Regional Drought Response Committee recommended lifting the drought watch after local reservoirs and streams stabilized.
The drought watch was enacted on July 14, 2026, after the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir stopped spilling and receded eight inches below the dam. The reservoir has been full and spilling since August 3.
Seasonably cooler temperatures, lower evaporation rates, and recent rain events have improved the community's water supply outlook. Additionally, national and Virginia monitoring reports indicate drought conditions have subsided for the region.
The Rivanna Regional Response Committee includes members from the RWSA, the Albemarle County Service Authority, the County of Albemarle, and the City of Charlottesville Utilities. Collectively, the group met regularly during the drought watch to monitor reservoir levels and stream flows.
Although the drought watch has been lifted, RWSA, the Albemarle County Service Authority, and the City of Charlottesville Utilities continue to encourage everyday conservation efforts to support efficient water use.
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.
This content is sourced from
City of Charlottesville
. It reflects the author's views and has not been edited by our newsroom. It may have been generated using AI assistance.
