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The Loudoun County Board of Supervisors today adopted a resolution declaring a water shortage emergency and instituting mandatory water restrictions for customers of the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority (LCSA) in eastern Loudoun County.

The ongoing drought has greatly reduced water levels in the reservoirs used by LCSA to provide water to its customers. Voluntary restrictions imposed by the County Administrator in early August reduced demand by approximately 10%, but not enough to significantly impact the water levels in light of the continuing lack of rainfall in the area since the beginning of August.

LCSA officials say the mandatory restrictions will ease demand, and if rainfall increases, help return the reservoirs to their pre-drought levels. Effective immediately, the restrictions prohibit:

(1) Watering of shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants or any other vegetation, except from a watering can or other container not exceeding three gallons in capacity, excluding plant nurseries, golf course greens and commercial agricultural activities. Any new grass, sod or vegetation planted since September 1, 2007 may be watered on an odd-even schedule. The over-seeding of existing turf does not qualify for this exemption.

(2) Washing of automobiles, trucks, trailers or other mobile equipment, except from a bucket or other container not exceeding three gallons in capacity. Use of a commercial car wash facility is allowed.

(3) Washing of streets, driveways, parking lots, service station aprons, the exterior of commercial or residential buildings or any other outdoor surfaces, except from a bucket or other container not exceeding three gallons in capacity, unless such washing is required to eliminate a hazard;

(4) Operation of any ornamental fountain or other structure making similar use of water;

(5) Filling of swimming and/or wading pools, from an empty or less than three-quarters full condition, except for home wading pools requiring not more than five gallons of water;

(6) Service of drinking water in restaurants, except upon request;

Full or partial waivers from these restrictions may be granted at the discretion of the County Administrator, in consultation with LCSA. To be considered for a waiver, download a Request For Waiver and submit to LCSA.

Violating these restrictions is a Class III misdemeanor and carries a $500 fine for each instance. Repeat violators may have their water service shut off for a period of up to five (5) days, under the County Administrator’s discretion. To report a violation, email drought@lcsa.org or call 571-291-7870, and provide a street address, time and date of the violation. All messages received by LCSA will be reported to the County Sheriff for action. LCSA’s Community Systems customers are not subject to these restrictions.