The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) is an independent public utility serving two customers: the Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) and the City of Charlottesville Utilities.
RWSA sets wholesale rates to cover operating and capital costs and bills their two customers accordingly. As a wholesaler, RWSA does not bill or provide services directly to individuals or businesses. Retail water services are managed by the City of Charlottesville Utilities and ACSA.
RWSA oversees five reservoirs: South Fork Rivanna, Ragged Mountain, Sugar Hollow, Totier Creek, and Beaver Creek. Additionally, it operates six water treatment plants, multiple dams and pump stations, and four water resource recovery facilities.
The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (RWSA) was established in 1972 by the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County to provide wholesale water and wastewater treatment services. Over the past decade, significant investments have enhanced services, supported by a 50-year water supply plan and major wastewater system upgrades.
Following a record drought in 2002, the Charlottesville/Albemarle community created the Community Water Supply Plan to address long-term water needs. RWSA is implementing this plan through the maintenance, development and construction of water infrastructure.
Committed to environmental stewardship, RWSA focuses on advanced nutrient removal, upgrading systems to handle storm surges, and producing compost and green energy from biosolids in wastewater treatment.
Featured Content
Community Water Supply Plan
In 2002, the Central Virginia Region experienced a historical drought that prompted a decade-long water supply planning process to ensure the needs of our region are reliably met.
Pictured: Ragged Mountain Dam
Leadership, Financials, and Public Proposals
Learn about RWSA’s leadership and commitment to transparency. Explore our board of directors, financial information, current rates and fees, and procurement opportunities.
Use the buttons below to navigate directly to your section of interest.
RWSA Board of Directors
Michael Gaffney,
RWSA Chair; Appointed
Jeff Richardson,
County Executive of Albemarle County; RWSA Vice-Chair; Ex-Officio
Sam Sanders,
City Manager of the City of Charlottesville; RWSA Secretary-Treasurer; Ex-Officio
Lauren Hildebrand,
Director of Utilities of the City of Charlottesville; Ex-Officio
Ann Mallek,
Albemarle County Supervisor; Ex-Officio
Quin Lunsford,
Executive Director of the Albemarle County Service Authority; Ex-Officio
Brian Pinkston,
Vice-Mayor of the City of Charlottesville; Ex-Officio
Public Hearing and Regular Meeting of the Board of Directors of RWSA
Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 2:15 p.m.
Meeting Location: Rivanna Administration Building (2nd Floor Conference Room), 695 Moores Creek Lane, Charlottesville, VA 22902
Board Meeting Zoom Link: RWSA 07/22/2025 Board Meeting Zoom Link: https://zoom.us/j/91049678869
Participation will include the opportunity to comment on those matters not listed for Public Hearing on the Agenda.
CURRENT RWSA AGENDA, which includes links to pertinent documents. Posted the week prior to the Board Meeting.
CURRENT RWSA BOARD PACKET, posted the week prior to the Board Meeting.
2025 RWSA – Schedule with Meeting Recordings
January 28, 2025 Meeting Recording
February 25, 2025 Meeting Recording
March 25, 2025 Meeting Recording
April 22, 2025 Meeting Recording
May 27, 2025 Meeting Recording
June 24, 2025 Meeting Recording
July 22, 2025
August 26, 2025
September 23, 2025
October 28, 2025
November 18, 2025
December 16, 2025
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2024 RWSA – Schedule with Meeting Recordings
January 23, 2024 Meeting Recording
February 27, 2024 Meeting Recording
April 23, 2024 Meeting Recording
May 28, 2024 Meeting Recording
June 25, 2024 Meeting Recording
July 23, 2024 Meeting Recording
August 27, 2024 Meeting Recording
September 24, 2024 Meeting Recording
October 22, 2024 Meeting Recording
November 19, 2024 Meeting Recording
December 17, 2024 Meeting Recording
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2023 RWSA – Schedule with Meeting Recordings
January 24, 2023 Meeting Recording
February 28, 2023 Meeting Recording
March 28, 2023 (Virtual via Zoom) Meeting Recording
April 25, 2023 Meeting Recording
May 23, 2023 Meeting Recording
June 27, 2023 Meeting Recording
July 25, 2023 Meeting Recording
August 22, 2023 Meeting Recording
September 26, 2023 (Virtual via Zoom) Meeting Recording
October 24, 2023 Meeting Recording
November 14, 2023 Meeting Recording
December 12, 2023 (Virtual via Zoom) Meeting Recording
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2022 RWSA – Schedule with Meeting Recordings
January 25, 2022 Meeting Recording
February 22, 2022 Meeting Recording
March 22, 2022 Meeting Recording
April 26, 2022 Meeting Recording
May 24, 2022 Meeting Recording
June 28, 2022 Meeting Recording
July 26, 2022 Meeting Recording
August 23, 2022 Meeting Recording
September 27, 2022 Meeting Recording
October 25, 2022 Meeting Recording
November 15, 2022 Meeting Recording
December 13, 2022 Meeting Recording
You can find the RWSA 2020-2025 Board Packages here.
You can find the RWSA 2020-2025 Board Minutes here.
Financials & Rates
Budget
Adopted Budget FY 2025-2026 Posted: 7/3/25
Capital Improvement Plan
Capital Improvement Plan: FY 2026-2030 Posted: 7/3/25
Financial Report
Annual Comprehensive Financial Report FY 2024 Posted: 2/19/2025
| Water Rates & Charges | Wastewater Rates & Charges | ||||||||||
| Urban Area | Urban Area | ||||||||||
| ACSA & City | Operating | $3.642 | per 1,000 gallons | ACSA & City | Operating | $3.719 | per 1,000 gallons | ||||
| City | Debt Service | $463,676 | per month | City | Debt Service | $466,000 | per month | ||||
| ACSA | Debt Service | $847,462 | per month | ACSA | Debt Service | $529,679 | per month | ||||
| Crozet | Glenmore | ||||||||||
| ACSA | Operating | $130,182 | per month | ACSA | Operating | $56,104 | per month | ||||
| ACSA | Debt Service | $258,666 | per month | ACSA | Debt Service | $12,079 | per month | ||||
| Scottsville | Scottsville | ||||||||||
| ACSA | Operating | $70,995 | per month | ACSA | Operating | $40,944 | per month | ||||
| ACSA | Debt Service | $25,344 | per month | ACSA | Debt Service | $4,619 | per month | ||||
The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority (Rivanna) was created by the City of Charlottesville (City) and the County of Albemarle and Albemarle County Service Authority (ACSA) to supply and treat water for drinking and provide wastewater treatment.
The above fees represent Rivanna’s fees and charges to the City and ACSA for these services and are not the same as the City and ACSA charge to individual residents and businesses. Debt Service covers capital related project costs and are different for City and ACSA reflecting terms of contractual agreements.
The City and the ACSA distribute drinking water and collect wastewater from individual residents and businesses and charge retail rates separate from the above schedule to reflect their service costs as well as Rivanna’s costs.
Brief Explanation
The Authority has two different charges for Urban Water and Wastewater operations:
Rate per 1,000 gallons:
All water produced* or wastewater treated (flows) for all operating costs. This is charged based on flows (or usage).
Fixed monthly charges:
These charges are for costs related to capital expenses and the debt payment related to financing those costs (similar to a mortgage). These costs are a known fixed cost and are customarily allocated to the City and ACSA based on an agreed upon cost split approved by both entities.
*Customers are charged for all water produced – for both potable and non-potable uses, fire protection, storage, and water loss.
For complete septage receiving details, click here.
Regular hours rates are .072 cents/gallon for Albemarle County and City of Charlottesville; .099 cents/gallon for non-Albemarle County and City of Charlottesville.
Deliveries made after hours, weekends, and RWSA holidays are subject to a higher rate as shown on the chart below:
| Septage Disposal Rates Per 1,000 Gallons | Regular Hours 6:00 am – 5:30 pm | After Hours, Weekends, & RWSA Holidays |
|---|---|---|
| Albemarle County / City of Charlottesville | $72.00 (0.072/gallon) | $99.00 ($0.099/gallon) |
| Beyond Albemarle County / City of Charlottesville | $99.00 | $138.00 |
| Approved Mobile Kitchens | $0.00 | $0.00 |
| RVs / Motorhomes / Campers / Charter Buses | $0.00 | $0.00 |
RWSA Proposals & Procurement
For further information on any of these bids, please call 434-977-2970 x 127. The Rivanna Authorities reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to waive any informality in the bids.
None at this time.
None at this time.
- Public-Private Education Facilities and Infrastructure Act (PPEA) of 2002
- For review and approval of projects using this procurement method: Purchasing Manual
- General Purchase Order Provisions
RWSA Facts & Figures
Founded
1972
Employees
104
Population Served
~130,000 in City and County
Water Treated Each Day
10.2 MGD
Manholes
685
Miles of Water Lines
72
Miles of Sewer Lines
42
We produce clean, safe drinking water for public water customers in the City and County; and we treat wastewater, so it can safely return to the Rivanna and James Rivers.
Watershed Area
Ragged Mountain
2 sq. miles
Sugar Hollow
18 sq. miles
South Rivanna
259 sq. miles
Totier Creek
29 sq. miles
Beaver Creek
10 sq. miles
Lab Tests Per Year
RWSA conducts over 2,100 water quality tests to meet federal and state standards. Continuous sampling is performed at each water treatment plant.
Facts are current as of September 2024
Rivanna Authorities
Learn more about the strategic plan uniting both Rivanna Solid Waste and Rivanna Sewer & Water.
Rivanna Solid Waste
We provide recycling, solid waste, and household hazardous waste disposal services to the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.