Water Supply Debate Rages on Between Albemarle, Charlottesville

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Updated: 7:53 PM Sep 2, 2010 Water Supply Debate Rages on Between Albemarle, Charlottesville The dispute between Albemarle County and Charlottesville officials over the area's water supply has hit a boiling point. City leaders gathered Thursday to discuss the 50-year plan for water options. Posted: 5:22 PM Sep 2, 2010 Reporter: Mark Tenia Email Address: mark.tenia@newsplex.com

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September 2, 2010

The debate rages on between the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County over the area's future water needs. The two sides are still at odds over what the demand will be in 50 years, and the best way to meet those future demands.

Charlottesville City Council held a special meeting Thursday to discuss the 50-year water supply plan and recent studies on the subject. Some members still are not sold on the 2006 water supply plan that was voted on and approved by City Council, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, the Rivanna Sewer and Water Authority and the Albemarle County Service Authority. The 2006 plan calls for a new dam at Ragged Mountain and a pipeline from that dam to the South Fork Reservoir.

Charlottesville Mayor, Dave Norris, believes dredging, conservation and raising the height of the existing dam at Ragged Mountain will be more cost effective and environmentally friendly for the community than rebuilding.

"This debate has become very polarized. They're some who say we have to stick with the current plan and have some blinders on about that. And there are some who say we can solve all the problems just by dredging the reservoir and sort of have blinders on about that. I'm trying to say 'let's pull the best ideas from both of these camps,'" said Mayor Norris.

Several Albemarle County Supervisors, however, say they have not seen any new information that changes their opinion of the original plan. They say waiting on the project will just make it more costly in the long run.

"[We] brought in a panel, we dealt with that appropriately. We now have a firm that has given us a much better way to build the dam, an earthen dam, which can be done by local people here. I think that's great to put our workers, create some jobs, put people back to work and it's time to move on and start this dam," said Supervisor Ken Boyd.

The debate will continue, as City Council will have a public hearing on the 50-year water supply plan at their regularly scheduled meeting on September 20. A joint meeting between all four boards involved in the discussed has been tentatively scheduled for a day later, on September 21.

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