As Charlottesville and Albemarle County prepare for September, typically the month requiring the highest water usage, city officials are hoping the rain won't go away and that area denizens will continue to follow the area's mandatory water restrictions.
The rain of the past couple of days has not come close to relieving the drought, city officials said.
"This little rainfall shows very little change," said J.W. "Bill" Brent, the executive director of the Albemarle County Service Authority. "This week's rain is not going to do it. It will take a significant amount to get us close to normal."
Statistics show that the regulations put into effect a week ago are having an impact. The water demand dropped from 10.5 million gallons Tuesday to 9.3 million gallons yesterday.
This is an improvement from last Thursday, the day of the first home football game, when demand reached 13.24 million gallons.
The city instituted the regulations because the water supply in local reservoirs dropped below 70 percent of capacity, down from 99 percent in May and 88 percent three weeks ago. Since last week, urban area supply has increased minimally, from 67.3 percent Wednesday to 67.9 percent yesterday.
Patrick Michaels, University environmental sciences professor and state climatologist, said that over the last four years the state is 20 inches short of normal rainfall.
In the past four years the state has received only three years worth of rain, he said.
This occasion marks the first time mandatory water restrictions have been enacted since the 1970s.
"I'm encouraged by demand lessening, and it shows that people are following restrictions," said Lee Catlin, Albemarle county community relations manager. "But we are in this for the long term and people cannot be complacent."
The drought is measured in two ways -- by the three reservoirs in the area and by the groundwater. As collection areas for runoff, reservoirs can fill up fairly quickly. Groundwater, as a deeper water source, only can be filled to normal capacity after a prolonged period of time.
Since reservoir levels can fluctuate greatly, they do not always provide a clear indication of the extent of the area's draught, Catlin said.
Even if water levels in reservoirs soon exceed 70 percent, the groundwater reservoirs will remain dry and the severity of water problem will remain virtually unchanged, she added.
The groundwater shortage is really the heart of the problem because Albemarle County is a mostly rural area, and about half the people in the county use well water, Catlin said.
Catlin is encouraging the University to be informed about the regulations, in addition to the rest of the community. Residential washing of vehicles and sidewalks is prohibited, and filling swimming pools and outside watering is limited. Restaurants may only serve water to customers upon request.
Since Sunday, 16 residents have received formal warnings for regulation violations, the Albemarle County Service Authority reported.
"Home toilet use is the greatest indoor problem," Catlin said. "The toilet should not be used as a waste can, and should only be flushed when really necessary. And washing machines and dishwashers should only run at full capacity."
The county has been successful in informing the public about the regulations, Catlin said. Businesses have received notices and have in turn informed their employees.
Judith Mueller, director of public works for the City of Charlottesville, said she fears a lingering water problem would damage the local economy.
"We could conceivably have to put a ban on outside use. The extreme measure would mean having to shut down businesses," she said.
If the dry spell persists, officials might propose greater restrictions to City Council and the Albemarle County Service Authority's Board of Directors.
Brent said it is difficult to predict future weather trends.
"The Farmer's Almanac said that a severe winter is in store, but it said that last year, too," Brent said.
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