OUR URBAN WATER SUPPLY … THE PLAN FOR MEETING OUR FUTURE WATER SUPPLY NEEDS LAWRENCE C. TROPEA, JR., P.E.,DEE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RIVANNA WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY NOVEMBER 25, 2002

OBJECTIVES: Drought of 2002 Approved Plan For The Future Costs and Time Table Answers to Questions

RIVANNA WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY MISSION Provide an adequate supply of safe drinking water for our community. Balance our water supply role and our environmental responsibilities. The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority does not control growth … our water supply should not be a pawn in the debate over growth.

DROUGHT OF 2002 Reservoirs full in June 2002 – 1.67 billion gallons Precipitation and stream flow fell to zero. August was a drought “accelerator.” Reservoirs fell to 785,000 gallons – or 88 days supply. Mandatory water use restrictions worked. Community support was fantastic. Reservoirs now recovered to 1.55 billion gallons THE DROUGHT OF 2002 WILL BE PROVEN MORE SEVERE FOR OUR AREA THAN THE DROUGHT OF THE 1930’s.

WATER SUPPLY MYTHS Water demand has been steadily increasing. No future water supply plan exists. Buck Mountain Reservoir is the water supply panacea. RWSA controls area growth.

URBAN AREA WATER CONSUMPTION YEAR DAILY AVERAGE MGD MGD MGD MGD AREA WATER CONSUMPTION WAS GREATER THAN 10 MGD IN 1987.

RIVANNA WATER SUPPLY PLAN This plan is approved and being implemented Continue Water Conservation. Add More Water Storage Capacity. Maintenance Dredging of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir. Rebuild Mechums Pump Station. Improve Water Treatment Facilities.. Gain Operating Flexibility. Control Sediments in the Watershed. Plus watershed leadership. Better Drought Management. PLAN ADDS 630 MILLION GALLONS OR 38 PERCENT TO OUR STORAGE CAPACITY.

GROWTH AND OUR AREA WATER SUPPLY By 2030 Plan allows for 5.3 MGD of Growth. 45 percent increase from FY 2001 water demand. By 2050 Plan allows for 8.2 MGD of growth. 75 percent increase from FY 2001 water demand. THE RIVANNA PLAN COMMITS TO PERIODIC REASSESSMENTS OF WATER SUPPLY NEEDS.

FAST TRACKING THE WATER SUPPLY PLAN Initially focusing on: – Raising height of Dam on South Fork Rivanna Reservoir – Dredging Project – Mechums River Pump Station Regulatory Approvals moving forward quickly THE TIME FOR PLANNING IS OVER … RIVANNA IS TAKING ACTION!

REGULATORY APPROVAL SUMMARY Four-Foot Crest Control Project – Wetlands delineation – Permit Application approximately 12/31/02 Mechums River Pump Station Project – PCN submitted – Permit in one week Dredging of South Fork Rivanna Reservoir – PCN submitted – Permit in two weeks Key Future Interactions – VDOT Meeting – FERC Analysis – Wetlands Mitigation – Aerial Photography — Define reservoir footprint

FUTURE WATER SUPPLY COSTS Water Supply Plan — $13.2 million Rehabilitation of Ragged Mountain Dam — under study Other infrastructure improvements — under study Targets – Major South Fork Rivanna improvements in 24 months to 4.5 years. Mechums River Pump Station by early to late WATER RATES MUST INCREASE TO ADDRESS FUTURE WATER SUPPLY NEEDS.

PROPOSED BUCK MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR Part of 2050 Water Supply Strategy. – 14.4 MGD of safe yield Not currently a preferred option: – South Fork Rivanna Reservoir is better option (cheaper, faster, less environmental impact). – Expected long lead time. – Environmental concerns (59 acre wetlands impact). James Spiny Mussel present – Very expensive ($57 million for project). THE BUCK MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR IS NOT A “LITMUS TEST” OF OUR WATER SUPPLY PLAN.

CLOSING COMMENTS Our approved water supply plan is sound. No plan is totally “drought proof.” Our focus must now be on action. RWSA committed to periodic reassessments of strategy. Let’s coalesce behind the approved plan!