Charlottesville Stock Photography
September 2009 Issue 5 of 6
Water Supply Alternatives
When shopping for something big like a home or a
car, we often look for alternatives when what catches
our eye initially seems in the end to be too expensive
or impractical, or both. Similarly, the fifty-year
community water supply plan has a growing number
of residents taking a second look and asking about
alternatives.
In late 2007, Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan
stepped forward and raised questions about the 2006
water plan. Their research brought to the community’s
attention alternative ideas for dredging the South Fork
Rivanna Reservoir and phasing (or eliminating) the
construction of a new Ragged Mountain Dam. In August
2009, the local Sierra Club announced that the entire water
supply plan should be revisited.
Leaders of both of these organizations have argued that
we need to take a fresh look at the long term projections
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of our community’s water needs and potential population
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growth. Revisiting the water plan is viewed by some
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opponents as the best way to protect the Ragged
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Mountain Natural Area or to limit potential population
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growth in Albemarle County, or both.
The community invested over $2.1 million to develop
the 2006 water plan which was unanimously approved
by Charlottesville City Council and the Albemarle County
Board of Supervisors. This only includes the direct costs
of consultant Gannett Fleming and not the costs in time
and labor by our local government officials. Restarting
the water planning process would certainly lead to some
portion of those costs being paid again by the community
for new studies and revised permits.
Our Water. Our Future. A publication of Charlottesville Tomorrow www.cvilletomorrow.org