Drought Conditions Call for Voluntary Conservation by Some

By Amber Lester Tuesday, July 20, 2010

James City County Administrator Sandy Wanner has declared Stage I drought conditions, requiring citizens to cut back their water usage.

The James City Service Authority is asking residents to limit outdoor watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns or other vegetation; limit the filling or refilling of swimming and wading pools; limit the washing of vehicles and boats and only using a hose with an automatic shut-off; and limit the washing of streets, driveways, parking lots, building exteriors or other surfaces.

If the water usage reductions don’t result in the necessary savings, the county will declare Stage II drought conditions. If Stage II conditions are implemented, the water usages listed above could be prohibited. Stage II will be declared if the average daily demand continues to exceed 7.5 million gallons per day, or 85 percent of the permitted allowance for 45 days. Stage II could be declared by Aug. 3.

The county is required to voluntarily conserve water if the average daily demands exceed 80 percent of the Department of Environmental Quality groundwater permit daily equivalent for 30 consecutive days.

The water conservation declaration does not apply to private wells or residents in Kingsmill and Grove, whose water service is provided by Newport News Waterworks. Learn more about the water usage declaration here.