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| A well sits in a dry creek bed north of Round Hill.
Area rainfall to date is more than 12 inches below normal. |
| From Aquifer to Tap, Acquiring Water
Requires Expensive Process |
By KIM RAMSEY
News aRound the Hill
If you ask your average young child in Round Hill where our water comes
from, you’ll likely get one of two answers: rain, or the sink.
Of course, both answers are part of the water distribution process. But
how does our water get from one point to the other?
Unlike many systems that rely on surface water from reservoirs, Round
Hill’s water system is entirely well-fed. The system currently operates
eight wells in the area, pumping water from underground aquifers that
are recharged by annual rainfall.
According to Alan Wolverton, utility supervisor for Round Hill’s water
utility system, only 10 percent of rainfall sinks into underground
aquifers, especially when the ground is as hard and dry as it is right
now.
Once the water is pumped from the ground, it enters the Town’s water
filtration system.
“We’re lucky here in that the water is very pure coming up,” Wolverton
said. The Town uses large filters to remove iron and manganese, and then
disinfects the water to kill any bacteria that may be present.
From the filters, the water enters water mains that extend throughout
the Town’s utility service area and ultimately reach individual homes.
It is also stored in the 500,000 gallon elevated storage tank next to
the Round Hill Elementary School and a smaller storage tank in
Stoneleigh.
While Round Hill operates what Wolverton describes as a pretty
bare-bones system, it is still a very expensive undertaking.
According to the Town’s water and sewer rate study that was finalized in
June, labor costs—salaries and benefits—account for more than half the
system’s operation and maintenance costs.
The utility system currently employs eight full-time and two summer-only
staff members. The town administrator, treasurer, and receptionist also
spend part of their days attending to utility matters.
Electricity and fuel, testing and lab costs, administrative expenses,
and supplies and equipment account for the remaining costs.
“Any time you have to go and buy something technical that not very many
people use, it’s going to be expensive,” explained water system operator
Earl Suitor.
Capital expenditures, of course, also factor into the system’s high
costs.
For example, the utility staff recently installed a new computer system
to monitor the water levels and outputs of each of its wells.
While the computer system was expensive to install, Wolverton and Suitor
are confident it will pay for itself in the long run in terms by saving
labor and repair costs that were incurred in the past by manually
monitoring the wells.
In addition to this recent purchase, the Town is currently pursuing
several other large capital improvement projects that will increase the
system’s pumping and storage capacity. (See below.)
While some of these projects are supported by developer proffers, a
large percentage of the expenditures must be underwritten by the water
system’s users and are, in part, a reason for the Town’s recent rate
increases.
Another reason why Round Hill’s water rates are higher than many other
Loudoun municipalities’ is that the Town’s utility system is relatively
new, and much of the debt incurred in constructing the system is still
being paid off, explained Town Council Utility Committee member Scott
Ramsey.
Typically, capital improvement costs are covered by availability fees,
which are charged on new homes as they are being constructed and are
supposed to help offset the additional financial burden that home puts
on the system.
Most new homes in the Round Hill area are part of the Oak Hill
communities, however, and availability fees for these homes were
determined by a legal settlement in 1990, when construction prices and
regulatory burdens were much lower than they are today. Consequently,
these fees do not cover today’s expenses.
“In effect,” Ramsey said, “our water rates are picking up costs that
cannot be charged at construction of these homes.”
The cost of the Round Hill system is also subject to an economy of
scale, Suitor contends. Round Hill must meet the same regulations and
provide the same services as a larger system while dividing the system’s
expenses and debt-management among a smaller number of users. This makes
each user’s individual share more than it would be in a larger system.
So, are more users the cure for higher rates?
This is a political question that Wolverton and Suitor hesitate to
answer.
Suitor would say, however, that the system is currently at capacity in
his opinion.
“We’re running things as hard as we can,” he said. “There’s no
redundancy,” or excess capacity, right now. “And if we don’t have enough
water now, what happens with more houses?” |
How Much Water
Do You Consume?
• Locate the number of gallons you used during the billing cycle on your
bi-monthly bill.
• Divide this amount by the number of days in the billing cycle. The
answer is your average gallon/day usage.
• An average residential account uses about 150 gallons/day. |
For more information, see:
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Water Restrictions to Last Through End of the Year
Implementation of Phase II May Be Required |
By KIM RAMSEY
News aRound the Hill
Since the implementation of mandatory water restrictions in August,
average daily water consumption in the Round Hill utility system has
dropped by nearly 20 percent. Unless the rain starts to fall soon,
though, 20 percent may not be enough.
A recent Town Council Utility Committee study of water usage found
average daily consumption for the August billing period dropped to
wintertime levels. “The suspension of summer outdoor water activities
(and probably many other voluntary conservation measures by residents)
returned residential usage patterns to a more winter pattern,” the
report reads.
“We are very pleased with the efforts of the utility customers to
conserve water during this drought,” said Carter Morrow, chairman of the
Utility Committee.
“Our water supply is very sensitive to daily water use and is highly
dependent on customers conserving water when the system is strained,“
Morrow said.
If the current drought conditions continue, however, even wintertime
usage may be too high.
The Town system is currently under Mandatory Water Restrictions, Phase
I, in which users are required to curtail outside water uses and overall
conservation is encouraged.
The Utility Committee recently directed the Town utility staff to read
meters bi-weekly instead of at the end of the 60-day billing cycle. More
frequent readings allow the staff to better monitor usage and detect
possible leaks in the system. The staff has also been instructed to
personally contact the system’s highest users and request that they
reduce their consumption.
In the event of prolonged drought, equipment failure or other loss of
capacity, the Town Council is authorized through the Round Hill Water
Ordinance to implement Mandatory Water Restrictions, Phase II.
During Phase II, usage would be limited to a set number of gallons a day
and surcharges on any usage above that amount would be imposed.
According to the water usage study, in order for Phase II restrictions
to be effective, large numbers of users would need to change indoor
usage habits in addition to curtailing outdoor usage.
While restrictions are ordered by the Town Council, the Council acts
upon the advice of the Town’s utility system staff members, who monitor
system water levels and capacity daily.
Even if Phase II restrictions are not implemented, though, Utility
Supervisor Alan Wolverton predicts several more months of mandatory
restrictions.
“I don’t see us going out of mandatory water restrictions until at least
the end of the year,” Wolverton said. “And every week that we don’t get
rain pushes the end date that much further.”
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Rain barrels can be made at home,
like this one, or store-bought. |
| Water-Friendly Landscaping |
By BRAD YURISH
Vice President, Blake Landscapes
The water deficit for 2007 is more than 12 inches, and it shows in Round
Hill’s lawns and gardens. Unfortunately the effects will extend into
2008 or longer, so it’s important to adopt water conservation measures
to preserve landscaping.
First and foremost, put the right plant in the right location. Native
plants are adapted to local climate and soils; test your soil first and
plant accordingly. Based on these results, apply recommended
amendments—these can improve soil quality and reduce stress on all
plants. Check with the Cooperative Extension Service for soil testing
services, native plant lists and other information. (703-777-0373;
www.loudoun.gov/extension/home.htm)
Another water conservation method is to collect rainwater and use it
later when needed. Rain barrels are great reservoirs, and several can be
linked to increase water storage capacity. Contact the Loudoun Soil and
Water Conservation District for information on how to make and use rain
barrels. (703-777-2075;
loudoun.vaswcd.org)
Mulching trees and planting beds helps conserve water, but only keep 2
to 3 inches of mulch on plants. Too much mulch prevents water from
reaching the roots and creates additional problems.
If/when water restrictions are lifted and watering of plants is allowed,
be discriminate and efficient. Apply water infrequently, yet thoroughly.
This creates a deep, well-rooted lawn that efficiently uses water stored
in the soil. Water newly installed trees and shrubs once or twice per
week, and do it slowly so the water reaches the bottom of the root ball.
Cut grass at 4 to 5 inches during hot weather and 3 to 4 inches the rest
of the year to lessen drought stress and create a healthy, deep root
system.
Fertilizing stressed plants, including turf, aggravates the problem. For
best results, fertilize trees and shrubs in the spring and turf grass in
the fall.
It is important that fertilizers be applied correctly for nutrients to
stay in the soil and not end up in the Bay. Most fertilizers are
petroleum-based sources and can be an inexpensive way to fertilize your
plants; however, over-applying these can easily pollute our groundwater
and downstream water ways. Organic fertilizers are a great source of
nutrients but be wary of the source; animal, bone, kelp-meal based
fertilizers are truly ‘organic’ but others are poultry/turkey-litter
based and not what most consider organic. Either way, even organic
fertilizers, if over-applied, will pollute the environment. |
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