Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant Raw Water Line

June 2025 Update

Pipeline installation near the Observatory Water Treatment Plant on Hereford Drive is underway and will continue through the end of July. During this phase, Hereford Drive will not be accessible between the UVA Dormitories and Observatory Water Treatment Plant. A detour remains at the three-way intersection of Herford Drive, Stadium Road, and Mimosa Drive, enabling traffic to circumvent the area using Stadium Road, Alderman Road, and McCormick Road. Elsewhere, the Contractor continues to haul off mulched trees along the pipeline alignment.

History

In 2002, the Central Virginia Region experienced a historical drought of record. This drought and the water supply needs of the Charlottesville/Albemarle region sparked a decade-long water supply planning process (2002-2012). The community evaluated future water needs and developed the Community Water Supply Plan, which was approved in 2012. The plan calls for several infrastructure projects and upgrades to secure the water supply for the Charlottesville/Albemarle area.

A detailed routing study for the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir (SFRR) to Ragged Mountain Reservoir (RMR) Raw Water Line, including the section between Ragged Mountain Reservoir and Observatory Water Treatment Plant (OBWTP), was completed between 2017 and 2021. Easement acquisition occurred concurrently with the routing study and was completed in September 2024.

Overview

The Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant Raw Water Line and Pump Station Project is a critical component of the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir pipeline and Community Water Supply Plan. Not only will this new water line and pump station integrate with the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir Pipeline, but it will also serve to replace rapidly aging raw water transfer infrastructure to the Observatory Water Treatment Plant and help to take full advantage of capacity upgrades that were recently completed at that facility. The full capacity of Observatory Water Treatment Plant will be able to be realized once the Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant Pipeline and Pump Station are completed, and the Central Waterline is completed under a future, separate project.

Details

The Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant Raw Water Line will span approximately 4 miles, between Ragged Mountain Reservoir and Observatory Water Treatment Plant, including a spur-piece of piping that will be installed on the Foxhaven Farm property, connecting the Ragged Mountain Raw Water Pump Station (RMRWPS) to the Southern end of the previously installed raw water line under the Birdwood Golf Course. All piping installed will be 36-inch in diameter, and the Ragged Mountain Raw Water Pump Station will have the capacity to initially transfer up to 10 million gallons per day (MGD) of raw water from Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant. Once the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir pipeline is complete and additional pumps are installed, the Ragged Mountain Raw Water Pump Station will also be capable of transferring 16 million gallons per day from the Ragged Mountain Reservoir to the South Rivanna Water Treatment Plant (SRWTP), as well as assist with the transfer of 25 million gallons per day of raw water from South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir and/or Observatory Water Treatment Plant. The Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant raw water line and pump station project has a total project budget of $61,500,000.

Benefits and Temporary Impacts

Enhanced Dependability of Our Drinking Water System: By connecting the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir and the Ragged Mountain Reservoir, as well as the South Rivanna Water Treatment Plant and Observatory Water Treatment Plant, our system will be capable of providing drinking water to the urban area from multiple facilities during periods of uncertain and changing climate conditions and extended droughts or incidents which may impact our water storage or treatment facilities. The new water line will replace the 70-100+ year old water lines which currently supply water to Ragged Mountain Reservoir from the Sugar Hollow Reservoir, as well as from Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant.
Tree Clearing: In order to install this large diameter piping, the full easement width (including all temporary and permanent easement areas, generally totaling 60 feet in width) will need to be cleared in order to facilitate heavy equipment access. All cleared areas will be appropriately restored following construction, and temporary stabilization measures will be utilized as needed in between clearing efforts and pipe installation.
Increased Water Supply: Completion of the water line and the initial phase of the Ragged Mountain Raw Water Pump Station will allow 10 million gallons per day of raw water to be transferred to the Observatory Water Treatment Plant, helping to take advantage of capacity upgrades at that facility. Previous raw water pumping infrastructure was limited to 7 million gallons per day or less.
Road Impacts: The pipe alignment crosses several roadways, including Reservoir Road, Hereford Drive, and Fontaine Avenue Extended. However, in the case of Fontaine Avenue, the work will be performed at night and will be sequenced such that a minimum of one lane remains open at all times. Work on Hereford Drive will be performed while the adjacent UVA dormitories are closed, and any pipe crossings of Reservoir Road will be conducted at night. The Contractor will also be responsible for ensuring that emergency vehicles can pass at all times during the work.
Better for the Environment: With the new, bigger water line in place we can provide more water for people, fish, and other wildlife, by rapidly filling Ragged Mountain Reservoir during times of high rainfall and leaving water in the rivers during dry times/droughts.
Trail Impacts: The pipeline alignment crosses many high-traffic trails, both on the Foxhaven Farm Property, and on UVA Grounds. The Contractor is responsible for developing a plan to detour trail traffic as necessary and will be working with UVA and UVA Foundation staff to appropriately coordinate any temporary trail closures as the need arises.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How was the route for this project determined?
- A: A detailed routing study was completed between 2017 and 2021. Easements were procured concurrently with all property owners along the pipeline alignment, and property was purchased for the pump station site.
Q: How many trees will need to be removed?
- A: All trees within the temporary and permanent easement areas will need to be removed, in order for the full easement width (generally 60’) to be available for the Contractor to use, and for the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority to be able to properly maintain the pipe after installation. All impacted property will be restored at the conclusion work, and if there are any gaps between tree clearing and pipe installation, temporary stabilization measures will be utilized by the Contractor.
Q: How will traffic be impacted by this work?
- A: Traffic impacts will generally be limited to nighttime. The only anticipated daytime traffic impacts will be in Hereford Drive on UVA Grounds during the Summer of 2025, but the adjacent UVA dormitories will be closed during this period, and appropriate detours will be established. The pipe crossing of Fontaine Avenue Extended adjacent to the Research Park will be conducted at night and sequenced such that a minimum of one lane remains open at all times. The pipe crossing of the US-29 Expressway will be conducted via a trenchless crossing under the highway, and traffic will not be impacted.
Q: How will popular trails be impacted by this work?
- A: The pipe alignment will cross trails both on the Foxhaven Farm Property and UVA Grounds. Temporary closures and/or detours will be required during construction in these two areas. Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority staff are coordinating with UVA and UVA Foundation staff, and notification of any closures/detours will be provided well in advance. At the conclusion of the work, all trails will be restored to pre-existing conditions, and in the case of trails on UVA Grounds, Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority will be working with UVA to restore ground conditions such that additional trails may be installed in the future.
Q: How can I contact someone about this project?
- A: Please utilize the form located here: Contact Us – Rivanna Authorities

Schedule

Phase 1 – Route Determination – Complete
Phase 2 – Easement Acquisition – Complete
Phase 3 – Design & Construction
- Bidding has been completed, and the Project has been awarded to Thalle Construction Company, Inc. from Hillsborough, NC. Construction is currently planned to be completed between February 2025 and June 2029.

Previous Updates

May 2025: The Contractor continues the chipping/mulching of felled trees along the pipeline alignment. The Contractor plans to begin the pipeline installation on May 27th. Construction will start near the Observatory Water Treatment Plant on Hereford Drive. During this phase, Hereford Drive will not be accessible between the UVA Dormitories and Observatory Water Treatment Plant. A detour will be established at the three-way intersection of Herford Drive, Stadium Road, and Mimosa Drive, enabling traffic to circumvent the area using Stadium Road, Alderman Road, and McCormick Road. The closure is expected to last through July 31st.

April 2025: The Contractor is currently focusing on the chipping/mulching of felled trees along the pipeline alignment. This will remain a priority for the next several weeks. In addition, the Contractor will soon begin grading the pump station site, installing temporary restoration measures along the pipeline alignment, and test drilling for rock near Hereford Drive and the Observatory Water Treatment Plant. Pipeline installation is scheduled to begin in late May, initially in the Hereford Drive corridor.

March 2025: The Contractor mobilized and began clearing trees on March 4th. Tree clearing will be the primary focus for the Contractor through the end of the month, and the Contractor will be working to clear as much of the project area as possible during this time. Temporary restoration measures, including grass seed and straw, will be utilized following the tree clearing for areas where pipe installation won’t occur imminently. In addition to tree clearing, the Contractor is working to mobilize equipment, install appropriate erosion and sedimentation control measures, set up construction entrances, and set up its jobsite office trailer on the RWSA-owned pump station site near Foxhaven Farm.

February 2025: An informational meeting was conducted on January 29, 2025. Links to a recording of the presentation and the slides presented are included below under “Project Documentation.” The Contractor is currently in the process of surveying the pump station site and the entirety of the pipeline alignment, and projects to have this completed this month. As early as the week of February 24, 2025, it is anticipated that the Contractor will begin mobilizing its equipment and jobsite trailer, as well as begin tree clearing efforts.

January 2025: Notice to Proceed (NTP) was issued to Thalle on December 12, 2024. The pre-construction conference will be conducted in late January, along with a public meeting. More details regarding the public meeting will be posted to https://www.rivanna.org/, under “Upcoming Events”. Once these critical steps are taken to ensure that the project is communicated appropriately both internally within the project team and externally with stakeholders, it is anticipated that the Contractor will begin mobilizing its jobsite trailer and equipment to the area. Once mobilization has occurred, the Contractor’s primary focus is likely to be tree-clearing, in order to facilitate pipe installation and pump station construction throughout the rest of 2025.