Securing Our Future: How the Community Water Supply Plan Supports Albemarle County and Charlottesville

An architectural rendering of the new pump station. The new pump station will sit slightly upstream from the South Rivanna Dam. Photo Credit: Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority.

Albemarle County & Charlottesville Water Supply Plan at a Glance

What is the plan? — A regional water supply initiative to protect and enhance water resources.
Who’s leading it? — Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) supported by ACSA and the City of Charlottesville.
What’s included? — Expanding reservoirs, improving pipelines, and increasing water security.
How does it affect rates? — Investments will influence upcoming rate changes.
Why is it important? — Ensures reliable water for a growing region.

Having clean, safe drinking water is essential for the citizens of Albemarle County. A regional initiative called the Community Water Supply Plan protects that resource. Developed after a record-setting Virginia drought in 2002, the plan was approved in 2012 as a long-term strategy to maintain our local water supply and outlines how to improve water infrastructure to ensure a sustainable future.

workers making upgrades to underground water pipelines — *Upgrades to pipelines, pumps, and reservoirs help ACSA maintain reliable service for all customers.*

What Is the Community Water Supply Plan?

The local water supply plan, led by the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) and supported by ACSA, includes a number of large-scale regional water infrastructure improvements designed to increase capacity, reliability, and resilience for our region.

Key components include:

Expansion of the Ragged Mountain Reservoir
Construction of a new pipeline connecting it to the South Fork Rivanna River Reservoir
Upgrades to pump stations and aging infrastructure

These improvements help ensure that our community has access to safe drinking water, even during drought conditions or periods of high demand.

SFRR to RMR Pipe Map — *A new pipeline connecting two major reservoirs will allow for flexible, system-wide water management.*

How Will This Impact Rates?

Large-scale infrastructure upgrades come with significant costs. As outlined by RWSA, current projects total nearly $300 million across the urban water supply system — one of the key drivers of ACSA’s upcoming rate increases.

Although rate changes can be challenging, they’re crucial for funding water infrastructure improvements and investing in long-term water security, ensuring water supply resiliency for Charlottesville drinking water. They also support fire protection, public health, and sustainability in a growing region.

Two women discussing billing — *Have billing questions? Our team is here to help you understand upcoming rate changes.*

Why Protecting the Albemarle County and Charlottesville Water Supply Matters

This work may not always be visible, but it impacts every household, farm, and business in our community. Protecting our Albemarle County and Charlottesville water supply reliability supports:

Public health by ensuring safe, treated drinking water.
Emergency response by maintaining fire protection and system reliability.
Environmental stewardship through sustainable water planning.

meeting room with chairs — *ACSA is committed to educating the next generation of water stewards through outreach and community engagement.*

Learn More About the Local Water Supply Plan

Want to learn more about the plan? Read the full press release from Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority. For detailed updates on Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority projects and long-term water planning for Albemarle County, you can also visit the official RWSA project page.

Have questions about your bill? Our friendly customer service team is always here to assist you. Reach out via email, phone, or our online contact form, or feel free to stop by our office in person. We’re always here to help.