Loudoun Water Future Upgrades.

Loudoun Water Banks on Potomac for Future Water Supply
Release Date: 01/26/2009

Ashburn – The Board of Directors for Loudoun Water unanimously agreed at their December Board Meeting to implement a Potomac River Water Supply and Raw Water Storage Plan, effectively securing the water supply for Loudoun Water’s suburban customers for the next 30 years. The Plan includes the formation of a key partnership with Luck Stone, whereby raw, untreated Potomac River water will be “banked” in retired quarries.
Loudoun Water’s Potomac River Plan entails putting its own intake in the Potomac River on riverfront property in Leesburg that Loudoun Water acquired in 1993, and pumping it to several of Luck Stone’s retired quarries for storage, and to a new treatment plant to be constructed near the Dulles Toll Road. The first quarry to become available will provide up to one billion gallons of storage. Ultimately, over many years, several of Luck’s quarries will provide the region with 8 billion gallons of raw water storage.

“The Potomac River is a resource we treasure not only for our water source, but for its intrinsic value to the region. That’s why the partnership we’ve formed with Luck Stone and their participation in the Plan is so important and demonstrates our shared values for this resource. By offering their quarries a second valuable life as a storage reservoir, the entire region benefits by ensuring the Potomac is used wisely” says Fred Jennings, Chairman, Loudoun Water Board of Directors.

Planned growth in Loudoun County will require an estimated 90 million gallons per day (mgd) by 2035. Loudoun Water currently has the ability to provide 57 mgd through contractual agreements with Fairfax Water (50 mgd) and the City of Fairfax (7 mgd). Loudoun Water staff looked at several options for securing this additional capacity, including buying it all from Fairfax Water. It was determined after lengthy study that the Potomac River Plan is the most cost effective and environmentally responsible way to go.

The Plan will be implemented in two phases and take seven years to complete: the first phase secures 20 mgd by 2015 and the second phase secures the remaining 20 mgd when needed. In the interim, up to seven additional mgd of water may be purchased from Fairfax Water if needed, and Loudoun Water will continue to encourage customers to use water wisely.

Loudoun Water will work on land use applications and permits for the intake and the water treatment plant throughout the next two years. It is hoped that ground will be broken on the new water treatment plant in 2011 or 2012, and it will be operational in 2015 or 2016 as the economic climate allows. The first quarry will be ready for its new life as a reservoir in 2017.

Contact
Samantha Villegas, Manager of Communications
Office Phone 571.291.7942
svillegas@loudounwater.org