Despite Some Rain and Forecast for More, LCSA Urges Continued Conservation

Leesburg – Though customers’ recent efforts to voluntarily cut back their water use have resulted in more sustainable demands, the weather has not fully cooperated, and the Goose Creek/Beaverdam supply continues to cause concern. Customers are urged to keep on conserving water use outdoors by following the Odd-Even Rule.

“Thanks to our customers, we’ve seen a 10 percent reduction in overall water demand, which is just what we need to keep us going through this dry spell. We need everyone to continue this effort and follow the Odd-Even Rule for lawn watering while the Loudoun skies remain dry,” says General Manager Dale Hammes.

The Odd-Even Rule for lawn watering means you water your lawn on even calendar days if your address is even and odd days if your address is odd.

Over the weekend, flow in Goose Creek dropped to below 2 million gallons per day, which was only 7% of its average flow for this time of year. Today, its flow is up to 9.6 million gallons. The question is whether that level will sustain. Withdrawals continue to be made from Beaverdam Reservoir at the rate of about 16 million gallons per day to augment Goose Creek’s flow, and meet basic water demands.

According to LCSA Operations Director Roddy Mowe, “If the Goose Creek flow continues where it is, then we can ask the City of Fairfax to throttle back on the releases from the Reservoir so its volume is conserved. There’s just under 700 million gallons of water storage left in Beaverdam now, which is approximately one and half months worth of water. Bottom line is, we need more rain.”

Rain is in the forecast for the Ashburn area most of this week. If the rain does not materialize, LCSA will consider asking the Board of Supervisors to invoke Mandatory Water Restrictions at their next Board Meeting on September 4. If that happens, lawn watering and other outdoor water-using activities would be prohibited and subject to a $500 fine under the County Code.

LCSA officials will continue to review water supply data, demand statistics, and weather forecasts, and will update customers when any change in the overall situation occurs. Customers can view daily statistics at www.lcsa.org.


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