FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2025
Update: Raw Water Pipeline from Ragged Mountain Reservoir to Observatory Water Treatment Plant
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority is preparing to enter the next construction phase for a new raw water pipeline from the Ragged Mountain Reservoir to the Observatory Water Treatment Plant.
On May 27, 2025, contractors will start installing a new 36” raw water pipeline. Construction will begin near the Observatory Water Treatment Plant on Hereford Drive. During this period, Hereford Drive will not be accessible between the Observatory Water Treatment Plant and the UVA Hereford Residential College residences. A detour is planned at the three-way intersection of Hereford Drive, Stadium Road, and Mimosa Drive, enabling traffic to circumvent the area by using Stadium Road, Alderman Road, and McCormick Road. The closure is expected to last through July 31, 2025.
The 36” raw water pipeline is replacing two 70+ year-old pipelines currently supplying raw water from Ragged Mountain Reservoir to the Observatory Water Treatment Plant. The project was one of several identified in the community’s Water Supply Plan approved in 2012. A detailed routing study for this project was completed in 2021, and easement acquisition was completed in 2024.
This $62 million project will feature approximately 4 miles of 36-inch underground piping and will include the construction of a water pumping station near Regents School on Reservoir Road. The project was awarded to the Thalle Construction Company in 2024.
This project is a generational endeavor that will expand the capacity, redundancy, and resiliency of our community’s drinking water network.
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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 10.21 million gallons of drinking water and 10.20 million gallons of wastewater each day.
The Ivy Solid Waste & Recycling Center is located at 4576 Dick Woods Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903. The facility accepts municipal solid waste from private citizens and collection vehicles servicing Charlottesville and Albemarle. Accepted wastes include: construction debris, demolition debris, bagged trash (Tag-a-Bag), grindable vegetative materials, clean fill materials, tires, appliances, large bulk items, and paint. Accepted recyclables include plastic films, aluminum beverage cans, newsprint, mixed metals, office paper, glass, #1 plastic containers, #2 plastic containers, mixed paper, corrugated cardboard, antifreeze, motor oil, and compostable food waste. Regular business hours are Monday through Saturday from 7:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Please visit Rivanna Solid Waste Authority's service fees webpage (link) for a current list of dumping fees. Tag-a-Bag stickers can be purchased by mail and/or at the scales.
The McIntire Recycling Center is located at 611 McIntire Road, Charlottesville, VA 22902. The facility accepts recyclable materials. Accepted materials include: aluminum beverage cans, corrugated cardboard, mixed paper, plastic films, #1 plastic containers, #2 plastic containers, office paper, glass, newsprint, mixed metals, compostable food waste, oyster shells, pizza boxes, and used cooking oil. Regular business hours are Wednesday through Monday from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM. The facility is closed on Tuesdays.
The Southern Albemarle Convenience Center is located at 6269 Esmont Road, Keene, VA 22946. The facility accepts recyclable materials and bagged trash (Tag-a-Bag). Accepted materials include plastic films, aluminum beverage cans, newsprint, mixed metals, office paper, glass, #1 plastic containers, #2 plastic containers, mixed paper, and corrugated cardboard. Tag-a-Bag stickers can be purchased by mail, at Green Mountain Country Store, 5977 Scottsville Road, Scottsville, VA and/or at Brown’s Market, 2724 Irish Road, Esmont, VA. Regular business hours are Friday through Wednesday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The facility is closed on Thursdays.
Media Contact
Westley Kern
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Rivanna Solid Waste Authority
434-977-2970, ext. 117
WKern@rivanna.org