South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir Pipeline, Pump Station & Intake Construction Project

The South Fork Rivanna Reservoir (SFRR) to Ragged Mountain Reservoir (RMR) Pipeline, Pump Station, and Intake Construction Project will hydraulically connect two local reservoirs. The project marks the final component of the 2012 Community Water Supply Plan, a ten-year planning effort that was initiated after the region experienced a drought of record in 2002. The plan, approved in 2012, called for a significant investment in our community’s drinking water infrastructure to include increasing the storage capacities of the Ragged Mountain Reservoir, replacing the existing raw water pipelines and pump stations connecting the Ragged Mountain Reservoir and Observatory Water Treatment Plant, constructing a new raw water pipeline, intake, and pump station to connect the South Fork Rivanna and Ragged Mountain Reservoirs, and renovating the South Rivanna and Observatory Water Treatment Plants. The plan was crafted regionally in collaboration with the Charlottesville City Council and the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors, with input from many community groups.

The Construction Project includes 6.5 miles of 36″ raw water pipe that will be installed from the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to the Birdwood Golf Course. The pipeline’s path will follow along Woodburn Road, Rio Road West, Hydraulic Road, Lambs Road, Colthurst Drive, and Old Garth Road. The new raw water intake and pump station will be built near the South Rivanna Dam and when complete, will have the capacity to pump 41 million gallons of water per day. Supporting water infrastructure allows for the potential to transfer 25 million gallons of water per day from the SFRR to the RMR, including up to 10 million gallons of water per day from the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to the Observatory Water Treatment Plant, and 16 million gallons of water per day to the South Rivanna Water Treatment Plant.

Benefits

• 

  Two of RWSA’s urban water treatment facilities will be able to draw water from either reservoir, providing an additional layer of redundancy.

• The new water line allows raw water to be transferred between reservoirs. This infrastructure upgrade enables RWSA to fully utilize South Fork Rivanna Reservoir’s 259 square mile watershed and Ragged Mountain Reservoir’s 2.1* billion gallon water storage capacity.
• The project will allow RWSA to retire a 100-year-old raw water pipe that currently connects the Sugar Hollow Reservoir to the Ragged Mountain Reservoir. This 18″ water pipe has a maximum transfer rate of 3 million gallons of water per day, which is significantly less than the 25 million gallons of water per day that the new SFRR to RMR water pipe will be able to handle. Once decommissioned, water stored in the Sugar Hollow Reservoir may be released into the Moormans River and Mechums River during drier months to maintain the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir’s reserves. The open method of transfer can help raise river water levels downstream of Sugar Hollow during drought periods.
• A new water boom will be installed across the reservoir to improve recreational watercraft safety above the dam. The boom provides a physical barrier that prevents reservoir users from getting too close to the dam.

Timeline

2017

• Preliminary engineering, route study, and easement acquisitions began.

2018

• In June, a Community Information Meeting was held at Albemarle High School to discuss the project and answer community questions. View a copy of the slides used in the presentation.

2021

• In May, a presentation was given to the Places29 Hydraulic Community Advisory Committee. View a copy of the slides used in the presentation.
• In December, Michael Baker International presented RWSA with a Preliminary Engineering Report.

2023

• In March, Kimley-Horn began work on the Final Engineering Design plan.
• Easement acquisitions were completed.

2025

• Kimley-Horn completed the Final Engineering Design plan.
• The project was placed out for bid.
• In December, RWSA Board of Directors approved the award of the project to Garney Companies, Inc.

2026

• Construction is anticipated to begin in March and finish by 2030.

Project Schedule

The project has been broken down into six different segments. Garney Construction will begin work on the north end of the pipeline in March 2026. Please keep in mind that the dates mentioned here are approximate and might shift. Factors such as weather conditions or material availability can affect the start and end times. We’ll make sure to keep you updated as we go along!

• Segment 1 – Woodburn Road (Map)
  • April 2026 to September 2026
• Segment 2 – Rio Road W & Hydraulic Road – Mostly night work (Map)
  • March 2027 to October 2027
• Segment 3 – Lambs Road (Map)
  • Summer 2027
• Segment 4 – Albemarle County Public School Property & Private Property (Map)
  • September 2026 to December 2027
• Segment 5 – Barracks Road & Colthurst Drive (Map)
  • June 2026 to September 2026
• Segment 6 – Birdwood Golf Course & Westover Farm (Map)
  • January 2027 to March 2027

Working Hours

To minimize traffic impacts, VDOT requires that construction along Rio Road E, Hydraulic Road, and Ivy Road occur at night. Outside these areas, general work hours will be Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Weekend and night work may occur if approved in advance by RWSA.

Construction Activities

Construction sites are active environments where many tasks occur. A passerby may notice workers, equipment, materials, and changing conditions as the project moves forward. Each visible element plays a role in the overall process, and together they show how planning, coordination, and skilled effort turn designs into functional infrastructure.

Paint markings and flags are used early on to identify existing utilities and future work areas, helping crews visualize the work before excavation begins. Surface pavement is then saw cut using large, powered equipment to create clean, controlled openings that minimize disruption and allow access to the underlying soil. Test pits, or small exploratory holes, are dug ahead of major excavation to confirm the precise location of existing utilities. As progress continues, a mobile convoy of excavators and dump trucks works along the pipeline alignment to install pipe. When permissible, steel plates are placed over open areas during non-working hours to protect the public. When steel plates are not allowed, open pits are backfilled. Temporary pavement restoration occurs after the mobile convoy has advanced. Final milling and paving will occur periodically throughout the project to restore roadways to their preconstruction condition.

Temporary Trail Impacts

Temporary trail closures are expected around Albemarle High School, Journey Middle School, Greer Elementary School, and UVA Foundation’s Westover Property. These closures are meant to protect individuals from construction activities. Trail signage will provide advance notice prior to the closures. This project will be closely coordinated with Albemarle County Public Schools and UVA Foundation to complete the work and restore access to the trails as quickly as possible.

Communication Efforts

February 4, 2026 – A public information session took place at the Albemarle County Office Building located at 1600 5th Street Ext., Charlottesville, VA 22902. You may download the slides or watch the recording of the presentation.

January 16, 2026 – 2,675 postcards were mailed to residents and businesses within close proximity to the future raw water pipeline

January 9, 2026 – Press Release: Public Information Session – Pipeline Project South Fork Rivanna Reservoir to Ragged Mountain Reservoir

December 18, 2025 – Press Release: Final Construction Project of the 2012 Community Water Supply Plan is Awarded

Past Updates

February 5, 2026: Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority hosted a Public Information Session on February 4, 2026. A copy of the presentation and a recording are available in the Communication Efforts section of this page. Scheduling efforts are underway, and the contractor plans to begin mobilizing in March. A tentative schedule has been added to the Project Section of this page. Segment maps have also been added, providing additional details on the pipe’s alignment.

December 17, 2025: Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority awarded the project to Garney Companies, Inc. of Fairfax, VA for $87,633,497. Tentative construction schedules are being developed and will be shared with the community as they become available.