With water reservoirs levels at 73 percent of their full capacity, the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority released a statement Monday urging residents to conserve water.
"The water shortage is normal and not severe," said Gene Potter, Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority spokesman. "We released the announcement to make people aware that reservoir levels are lower than they typically are."
Jerry Stenger, assistant to the state climatologist, agreed this is a normal water shortage.
"Water reservoirs work by capturing rain water," Stenger said. "Currently, the amount of water in the reservoir exceeds the amount of water which evaporates."
Although water usage and demand in Albemarle County has been low this year, Potter said he recommends that residents still take the conservation efforts seriously.
He suggests college students take "common-sense measures" to reduce water use by taking shorter showers, turning off the water while brushing teeth and shaving, and checking to make sure showers and water faucets are turned off completely.
Water conservation becomes voluntary when reservoir levels fall to 70 percent of their capacity, which Potter describes as "the first trigger." At this level, authorities issue warnings to conserve water.
When water levels fall to 65 percent their capacity, water conservation becomes mandatory.
At this level of conservation, ordinances are issued against lawn watering and car washing.
Water shortages and fluctuations are normal phenomena, according to Potter, "occurring once every 10 years."
But Potter said this is the fourth-lowest water level in Rivanna since 1972.
"It is typical to have variations, which sometimes are large," Stenger said. Virginia's rainfall reached a particularly dry mark in the 1930s, which today serves as a benchmark for measuring droughts.
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