Due to a break in one of the James City Service Authority’s (JCSA) primary distribution lines, JCSA is entering into Stage 1 of its Water Conservation Plan. As a result, the following actions are in effect:
- Voluntary water conservation measures are encouraged. Specifically, JCSA is asking its water customers to refrain from irrigating their lawns, effective immediately, until further notice.
- New construction requiring landscaping under the County’s Landscaping Ordinance may delay landscape installation by posting a bond.
- Property owners are encouraged to postpone the installation of new landscaping until restrictions are lifted.
The broken main has not resulted in any customers being out of service or affected the JCSA’s ability to provide pressure and flow to meet domestic demands. However, as summer demands increase, JCSA may experience lower water pressure, which could impact the adequacy of pressure and flow for fire protection during peak times in irrigation season. Mandatory water conservation measures may be needed if voluntary measures do not provide the required decrease in demand.
The broken main is 30 feet under the Powhatan Creek and cannot be repaired. Efforts are underway to replace the main, but obtaining the required permits will take several weeks before construction can begin.
Submeter customers will not be billed the monthly Submeter fee until restrictions are lifted. JCSA will notify customers as soon as the main is replaced, which is projected to be early to mid July.
A map of the JCSA service area is available online at https://jamescitycountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27762/Irrigation-Restrictions-PDF. JCSA water customers are in the voluntary irrigation restriction area except for customers served by independent wells in the following neighborhoods: Glenwood Acres, King’s Village, Liberty Ridge, Racefield, Riverview Plantation, The Retreat, Ware Creek Manor, Westport and Wexford Hills.
JCSA sewer customers with water supplied by Newport News Waterworks are not in the voluntary irrigation restriction area.
Please refer to the “List of Neighborhoods, Street and Areas” to see the voluntary irrigation status for specific locations: https://jamescitycountyva.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27763/.
JCSA General Manager Doug Powell stated, “I realize that the voluntary restrictions are inconvenient, especially at this time of the year. However, in the interest of public safety and in an effort to ensure that we can maintain our fire protection capacity, we urge customers to refrain from irrigating their lawns until we can replace the broken main.”
Media Contact:
Doug Powell, JCSA General Manager
757-259-4101, doug.powell@jamescitycountyva.gov