Charlottesville, VA… July 16, 2025…The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority’s (RWSA) Board of Directors has approved the award of two significant construction projects that will benefit our community for many generations. The Ragged Mountain Reservoir Pool Fill Project was awarded to Faulconer Construction Company from Charlottesville, Virginia, for $11,018,050. This project will fully utilize Ragged Mountain Reservoir’s storage capacity by allowing the pool level to rise an additional 12 feet. The Reservoir’s water reserve will increase from 1.4 billion gallons to 2.1 billion gallons. The Board also awarded the Central Water Line Project, Phase 1, to Sagres Construction Corporation from Arlington, Virginia, in the amount of $47,450,000. This project will install a large water main pipe to better connect the drinking water pipe networks in the City of Charlottesville and in Albemarle County. The Urban Water System is currently connected with a series of smaller water pipes that do not allow large volumes of water to move efficiently within the network. The new piping will facilitate more efficient sharing of water treatment resources and storage reserves, while also providing the necessary redundancy for maintenance operations.
Ragged Mountain Reservoir Pool Fill Project
In December 2023, the Charlottesville City Council, the Albemarle County Service Authority Board of Directors, and the RWSA Board of Directors approved an amendment to the “Ragged Mountain Dam Project Agreement” of 2012 that will allow RWSA to fully utilize the water storage capacity of the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. The rise in pool level will increase the Ragged Mountain Reservoir’s water reserves from 1.4 to 2.1 billion gallons. This project is a part of the 2012 Community Water Supply Plan and will improve the long-term reliability of our drinking water system during periods of uncertain and changing climate conditions and extended droughts. More information on the Community Water Supply Plan can be found on RWSA’s website at https://rivannawater.org/community-water-supply-plan/
RWSA expects to begin construction on this project in September, with an anticipated completion in December of 2026. The work will require tree and vegetation clearing around the reservoir, modifications to the water intake tower, and a right abutment drain in the dam. During construction, intermittent trail closures are anticipated. These closures are meant to protect individuals from construction activities. Trail signage will provide advance notice prior to the closures. The project will be closely coordinated with the Charlottesville Department of Parks and Recreation to complete the work and restore public access to the trails as quickly as possible. Once complete, recreational users will notice an improved boat ramp facility. For more information about the project and to sign up for regular updates, please visit https://rivannawater.org/ragged-mountain-pool-fill-project/. RWSA plans to hold a public information session about this project in August.
Central Water Line Project, Phase 1
The Central Water Line Project will hydraulically interconnect the Urban Area Drinking Water System, which includes all of the City and designated portions of the County served by public water produced by one of the three Urban Area Water Treatment Plants (South Rivanna, Observatory, North Rivanna). The project will include drinking water transmission pipes which will more efficiently convey drinking water from the Observatory Water Treatment Plant, located near UVA’s Scott Stadium, to the City and to portions of the County within the Urban Area, and generally strengthen the Urban Area Drinking Water System for the benefit of both the City and the County.
The Central Water Line’s general alignment was approved in 2022 by City Council and the RWSA Board. An information letter was sent to all property owners along the proposed route.
The Central Water Line Project will occur in two separate phases. Construction on Phase 1 will begin later this year with an anticipated completion in 2029. Its routing alignment will follow Stadium Road, Piedmont Avenue, Price Avenue, Lewis Street (to railroad), Jefferson Park Avenue, Cleveland Avenue, Cherry Avenue, Roosevelt Brown Boulevard, Elliot Avenue, 6th Street SE, Avon Street (to railroad), E Water Street, and 10th Street NE. Phase 2 will continue along 10th Street NE, Little High Street, Meade Avenue, Fairway Avenue, across two City-owned parcels to E High Street, and end on Long Street. It’s anticipated that construction on Phase 2 will begin in the spring of 2026, with completion slated for 2028.
More information on the Urban Finished Water Master Plan and Central Water Line Routing Study can be found on RWSA’s website at https://rivannawater.org/central-water-line-project/.
RWSA plans to host a public information session about this project in September. Individuals who would like to receive regular updates about the project can sign up for RWSA’s free e-newsletter at https://rivannawater.org/central-water-line-project/.
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The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority & Solid Waste Authority’s mission is to serve the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA communities by providing high-quality water and wastewater treatment, refuse, and recycling services in a financially responsible and sustainable manner.
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority provides wholesale water and sewer services to the Charlottesville Department of Utilities and Albemarle County Service Authority.
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority manages five reservoirs, nine dams, six drinking water treatment plants, five finished water pumping stations, eleven water storage tanks, four advanced water resource recovery facilities (wastewater treatment plants), and nine wastewater pumping stations.
In 2024, the Authority processed an average of 10.2 million gallons of drinking water and 10.2 million gallons of wastewater each day.
Contact:
Westley Kern
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority
434-977-2970, Ext. 117
wkern@rivanna.org