Waynesboro | No emergency, but city offers water-saving tips amid Drought Watch

The City of Waynesboro has responded to the Drought Watch Advisory issued for the region by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on Monday.

The city said the advisory “indicates that there’s a potential for a drought to develop, but no immediate emergency is present.”

Waynesboro City Council officially declared a Drought Watch at its meeting Monday night. The city also vowed to communicate voluntary conservation measures.

While not an emergency, as a precaution, the city sent an alert today by email encouraging residents and businesses to minimize nonessential water use and practice simple conservation steps.

The city posted information on the Drought Watch to the front page of its website and shared water-saving tips on the Public Works Facebook page.

Deputy Director of Public Works Chad Rambo told AFP that the city will continue efforts to reduce water loss in the city’s water system through leak-detection efforts. The city is also limiting non-essential use of fire hydrants, he said.

Waynesboro was included in a drought watch advisory issued for 28 counties due to rapid declines in streamflow and groundwater levels due to a lack of precipitation.

The Virginia DEQ, in coordination with the Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force, issued the advisory for:

• Shenandoah: Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah and Warren counties
• Northern Virginia: Arlington, Fairfax, Fauquier, Loudoun and Prince William counties
• Roanoke River: Bedford, Campbell, Charlotte, Franklin, Patrick, Halifax, Henry, Mecklenburg, Pittsylvania and Roanoke counties
• Upper James: Alleghany, Bath, Craig, Botetourt, Highland and Rockbridge counties

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ICYMI

• Virginia | Drought watch advisory issued due to rapid declines in streamflow, groundwater
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• Waynesboro | City experiencing dry conditions; state task force to discuss next week
• No drought? Waynesboro residents call BS, ‘even the weeds are dead’

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All Virginians are encouraged to protect water supplies by minimizing water use, monitoring drought conditions and detecting and repairing leaks.

The task force will meet again on Oct. 2 to re-evaluate conditions throughout the state.

Public Works: Easy stewardship habits

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• Turn off the tap while brushing or shaving: this one habit can save nearly 5,700 gallons a year.
• Take shorter showers — even two minutes less can save 10 gallons.
• Run full loads in dishwashers and laundry machines.
• Don’t use the toilet as a trash can.
• Rinse fruits and veggies in a bowl instead of under the faucet.
• Fix household leaks quickly. A dripping faucet can waste more than 3,000 gallons a year.
• Toilet leaks are often silent — add a drop of food coloring in the tank; if color appears in the bowl without flushing, you have a leak.
• Laundry and dishwashing – run full loads only.
• Water lawns and landscaping wisely
• Check irrigation systems for leaks

For more ideas, visit https://www.epa.gov/watersense/statistics-and-facts