Water Conservation Is Essential For Life
Water is an essential component of life itself. In order to ensure its availability, while saving you money at the same time, it is crucial that everyone practice good water conservation, especially in times of drought. Charlottesville Water encourages every citizen to follow these tips on easy ways to save.
Drought Status: Currently, the City is not in a Drought status. There are no mandatory restrictions in effect. However, practicing good conservation habits now will protect our resources all year.
HELP! MY LAWN HAS GONE COMPLETELY BROWN! A lot of grasses go dormant and turn brown in summer heat, and this summer has been a doozy. If your turf was healthy, it has a solid chance of rebounding nicely once things cool down - no supplemental irrigation needed. Your turf wasn't that healthy? Now is not the time to try and make up for it with excess irrigation, when our water supplies are also feeling the heat. Take shelter someplace cool and read through our new Water Wise Lawns page. Learn the steps necessary to recreate your yard as a hardy survivor of future hot spells. |
Learn to Conserve Water and Maintain a Beautiful Landscape!  It's hot out there! If you're worried about your rapidly browning lawn - don't! The cool season varieties of grasses that are so common in our area naturally go dormant in the summer. Protect our water supply by allowing your lawn a little summer vacation. And on the plus side - dormant grass doesn't need to get mown.
A beautiful yard is more than just grass. Visit our Water Wise Landscaping and Water Wise Plants pages to learn more about the variety of different plants that can make up an attractive and healthy water wise landscape. |
 Residential Water Calculators Available!
The City of Charlottesville now has a residential water use calculator available! This calculator will help to determine where your water goes, which can help you find the best ways to conserve. You will be able to compare your usage to the average in our community. In addition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a calculator to help you determine how low flow devices (such as these free and rebated items) can permanently save your water. |
 The Rain Barrel Rebate Is Now Available
City residents may apply for a $30 rain barrel rebate, up to (2) per water account. Barrels can be purchased from any vendor, though we encourage you to first check out local vendors, like the ones listed here. Learn more about the program by reading the Rain Barrel Rebate Brochure. Once you have purchased your barrel, use it or the Rebate Request Form to apply for your rebate. Have you also applied for the $100 toilet rebate? Replacing inefficient toilets is a proven method for long term water conservation. |
New Rain Barrel Workshops for 2010
The City sponsored a workshop by the local Thomas Jefferson Soil and Water Conservation District (TJSWCD) on June 12 at Pen Park. Attendance was low, so no new workshops will be scheduled unless we know there is interest in the community. Want to tell us you're interested? Email the Water Conservation Manager. The TJSWCD will also hold workshops in their other localities this summer; you do not have to be a resident to attend. Check their website, above, to find out more.
Want a barrel outside of a workshop? Additional barrels can be purchased through commercial retailers (some of which are listed here), the Rivanna Conservation Society or you can build another using these instructions.
If you would like to be added to the rain barrel contact list, please email the City's Water Conservation Manager. You will then be notified by email when additional workshops for 2010 are scheduled.
Read our list of Money-saving Water Conservation Tips
Learn easy ways to conserve water everyday!
$100 SPECIAL OFFER - ACT NOW!
Use of the toilet accounts for 30% of the average home's indoor water use. Toilets from before 1994 are especially wasteful; if replaced by an efficient model, a typical household can save 10,000 gallons per year! Make water conservation automatic - install a low-flow toilet. 
Make shopping for one easy - look for the WaterSense label, which indicates a product has met EPA standards for efficiency and performance. WaterSense products have been tested by a third party and are proven to be as effective as conventional products while using at least 20% less water! The City of Charlottesville is offering a $100 rebate for the purchase and installation of a low flow toilet.
Free Indoor Conservation Kits
A program in place since 2002, City residents may pick up a free kit from the Utility Billing office, located in City Hall. The low flow fixtures are easy to install, and will make daily water conservation easy for the whole family!
Take a look at our new brochures, published by the Environmental Protection Agency: Saving Water Saves Energy and Simple Steps to Save Water These are now available at City Hall and the Utility Billing Office, and will be at all water conservation events around town. |
Community Water Supply Plan Has Its Own Webpage
Visit this page for information and updates.
For more information, contact: Charlottesville Water (434) 970-3800
or Email
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