UPDATE (4/17/24): Round Hill Lifts Voluntary Water Conservation 

The Town Council has lifted Voluntary Water Conservation measures for Round Hill utility customers. This action was based on the following:

• The region has received a significant amount of precipitation over the past several months and is no longer experiencing drought conditions.   
• Well D came online in February 2024 and is fully operational. Well D gives the Town an additional water source and allows the other wells to recharge.
• A review of the Town’s groundwater level data and regional precipitation trends by the Town’s hydrogeologist, Emery & Garrett Groundwater Investigations (EGGI), determined that there is no need for the Town to have water restrictions in place at this time.

The Town is working with EGGI to implement a groundwater level monitoring program in 2024/2025 and utility staff will continue to monitor the performance of the wells throughout the summer and fall.

UPDATE (2/8/24): Mandatory Water Conservation Lifted

The Town has received final approval for Well D from the Virginia Department of Health and the Mandatory Water Conservation requirements have now been lifted. Water from Well D will be treated and chlorinated at the Evening Star Water Treatment Plant prior to being placed into the system. Well D will give the Town an additional water source and allow the other wells to recharge. 

While the region is out of drought status due to recent rain and snow, it can take many months for the precipitation to reach the Town's network of wells, most of which are 500 to 800 feet deep. As a result, the Town will remain in Voluntary Water Conservation until further notice and customers are asked to continue to conserve water. 

PUBLIC NOTICE (12/8/2023): Mandatory Water Conservation Phase One Still in Place

NEW: Visit the Mandatory Water Conservation Page for more information about local and regional drought conditions and water conservation measures. 

On Wed December 6, 2023 – the Town Council determined that Mandatory Water Conservation Phase One will remain in place until at least February when they can revisit the well data, meter data and drought conditions from December and January.

The good news is that the November Customer Water Meter Reads showed that the Utility System was able to meet the goal of reducing consumption by 10% or more. The reduction in demand has allowed the Town Wells to have clean consistent run times that can meet the lower demand, and not cycling on and off as frequently as they had in previous weeks.

The Town Council is encouraged by the first 30 days of well data and meter data. They are hopeful that the community can keep up the good work of being responsible and thoughtful in their water consumption.

Please keep in mind that the Town Council does not want anyone to have to skip showers or avoid washing laundry or any huge change to their lifestyles. Customers only need to move to sustainable use patterns that allow all households to operate as needed.

The best way to conserve water is to find ways to cut back on water use in small ways throughout your day. That includes only running full loads of the dishwasher or the washing machine, turning off the sink when you are brushing your teeth, and setting a time limit on your showers. The best way to save water is to find and fix all fixtures with any kind of leak. In the last month, the Utility Staff have encountered customers who did not realize that they had a leaky toilet or sink for days or weeks that were using upwards of 100 to 300 additional gallons of water per day (3,000 to 9,000 gallons more in a month).

Round Hill remains under a Severe Drought. The Town Well System is trying to recover from the 13th driest October since 1895 and the 29th driest “Jan to October” since 1895. Round Hill currently has a 10 to 15-inch rainfall deficit that could take months to fully recover (even with regular rain events). Round Hill needs everyone to do their part in conserving so that all 1,826 households can still get the water they need without having to enact further restrictions.

This is not a short-term emergency or situation. Customers need to prepare for long-term conservation efforts. It is unknown how long the drought will last. However, the Utility Staff feels confident that if everyone continues to use 15 gallons less a day (or more) then the Utility System can maintain the 10% reduction in average use which will allow the wells to maintain adequate water levels as we wait for the aquifers to slowly refill from any future rain events.

Thank you to everyone for your patience and understanding during this critical time.

For more information visit https://www.deq.virginia.gov/.../water-quantity/drought

***Following are the previous Public Notices/Updates that have been posted since August 2023***

UPDATE (11/2/2023): Mandatory Water Conservation Phase One in Effect

On November 1, 2023 the Mayor & Town Council of Round Hill declared Mandatory Water Conservation Phase One effective November 2, 2023.

Round Hill is currently under a Severe Drought. All customers of the Town's water system are requested to conserve wherever and whenever possible in their normal consumption of water. It shall be unlawful for any person to use water from the Town's water system for the purpose of watering lawns and gardens, washing cars, filling swimming pools, and like activities. Any person or customer found conducting any of these prohibited uses shall be subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred ($500) dollars for each violation.

Please refrain from such activities as the following:

•No washing or using water hoses on paved areas, buildings, windows, or hard-surfaced areas,

•No operating ornamental fountains,

•No washing or rinsing vehicles by hose,

•No new landscaping established (unless you use rain barrels to water)

The Town Council is grateful to everyone who has reduced water consumption over the last 3 months. Unfortunately - to give the aquifer and the 12 wells a chance to recover – all customers need to reduce usage by at least 10% consistently for 6 months or more.

The Town produces about 7.6 million gallons of water per month to serve 1,826 households and businesses, so the Utility Staff is looking for ways to reduce consumption by about 25,000 gallons per day or more. On top of reducing usage, the Utility Staff will also be monitoring the system for leaks and unexplained water loss, as well as close tracking of the overall health of the system using new advanced SCADA and Meter Systems.

This is not a short-term emergency. Customers need to prepare for long-term conservation efforts. It is unknown how long the drought will last. This means it could take upwards of 3 to 6 months for the Town Council to determine if winter rain/snow events combined with conservation efforts restored the aquifer levels and allowed the wells to return to normal production capabilities.

If the overall Utility System cannot reduce consumption over the next 30 days and the well levels continue to drop – the Town Council may move to Mandatory Conservation Phase Two – in which water usage will be allocated to customers at a rate per month determined by the Town Council and fines will be enforced for exceeding usage allocated.

UPDATE (10/4/2023): Voluntary Water Restrictions Remain In Effect

Despite recent rainfall, voluntary water restrictions continue to remain in effect for the Round Hill Utility Service Area, underscoring the critical importance of responsible water usage in our community. While the rain was definitely needed, the recent precipitation has not adequately replenished our network of wells that service 4,500 customers. Groundwater wells require sustained recovery periods to reach optimal levels so it could take many more months with substantial precipitation before the wells fully recover. Thank you for your continued assistance with maintaining voluntary water restrictions until further notice.  

PUBLIC NOTICE (9/7/2023): Voluntary Water Restrictions in Effect

On September 7, 2023 the Town Council of Round Hill declared Voluntary Water Restrictions for its water system. Round Hill provides water & sewer to 1,826 households (about 4,500 people).

Thank you to everyone who has been conserving water over the last few weeks. We have seen some slowdown in well run times. However - our aquifer is still struggling under these drought conditions to keep up with demand.

Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality has issued a drought watch advisory for Fauquier, Loudoun, Prince William, Arlington, and Fairfax counties. Groundwater levels are below the 10th percentile in the Northern Virginia area — which means they reached emergency levels. Stream flows, precipitation as well as groundwater and reservoir levels are factored into the warning about increased drought risk. Round Hill depends on a system of 12 wells that pull from groundwater.

During Voluntary Water Restrictions, Round Hill Utility Department are asking all customers of the Town's water system to conserve water. Please consider doing your part by not watering your lawn, washing your car, or filling your pool for at least the next 30 days.

It is important to understand how many gallons of water these types of uses require. For example, the average household watering their lawn for 30 minutes can use 150 gallons of water (a sprinkler rated at 5 gallons per minute). You also repair dripping faucets or running toilets. A dripping faucet can use up to 10 gallons per day and a running toilet can use up to 200 gallons per day.

If you are able to incorporate any or all of these conservation measures into your water use, you’ll make a huge contribution to the community’s need for water conservation, plus you can save energy, and lower your household bills.

The Round Hill Utility Department are hopeful that conserving water now will help to avoid mandatory restrictions at a later date.

PUBLIC NOTICE (8/23/2023): Round Hill Under Moderate Drought

As of this week, Round Hill is currently under a Moderate Drought - which is impacting well production. The Town is asking all residents to immediately start reducing water usage.

This request comes after the Staff made the decision on August 23 to take the Evening Star Treatment Plant offline to give the 2 wells that feed the Plant time rest and recharge. These 2 wells have been struggling this week with low production levels due to the drought conditions.

Town Staff will begin immediately monitoring water usage and will issue warnings to residents as needed starting tomorrow. We hope that everyone will cooperate and limit all non-essential water use.

Ways to Conserve Water During this Drought:

1. Operate only fully loaded dishwashers and washing machines.

2. Take short showers instead of baths.

3. Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing teeth.

4. Don’t water lawn

5. Don't fill pools or run sprinklers

6. Don't wash cars

The Town is quickly approaching Mandatory Water Conservation. Town Staff will make a final decision in the next 3 to 5 days. We are most concerned about protecting the water supply for the critical daily needs of our residents. As we try to protect the health and safety of our town, we hope that you will do your part to conserve water while we wait for the drought to end.

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NOTE: The Town provides water to over 1,825 homes using a series of 12 wells. Construction of Well D will begin this Fall and will serve as an Emergency Well to be used in times of low well production. Then when the new Evening Star Treatment Plant (with additional treatment capacity) comes online in the next 3 years - Well D will be used as a Regular Production Well.