Please Use Less Water

As the weather starts to cool, and we have had some rain recently, it is easy to forget that Virginia is in the midst of a terrible drought. The Board of Supervisors recognized this condition earlier this summer. The LCSA is asking them now to take it a step further.

The Loudoun County Sanitation Authority announced today that it plans to ask the Loudoun Board of Supervisors to declare a water shortage emergency and impose mandatory water restrictions in the county. The board of supervisors is scheduled to take up the LCSA request at its meeting tomorrow. Residents will be asked to restrict their water usage to no more than 75 gallons per person per day. - Leesburg Today

Even though much of the grass we see as we drive to work in the morning is green once again, that does not mean the drought has dissipated. On the contrary, now is a sensitive time. Our reservoirs must recover, our land must recover, our watersheds must recover.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has a number of good ideas for saving water. Here are a few:

• Using washing machines and dishwashers only when fully loaded.


• Using a pan when washing vegetables and dishes instead of letting water run continuously.


• Not allowing the water to run continuously when brushing teeth, washing hands, shaving or taking a shower. By turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, you can save as much as 14 gallons of water a day.