Citizen

Response

With only 61 percent water capacity remaining in our lakes, Portsmouth's Interim City Manager C. W. "Luke" McCoy ordered mandatory water conservation on July 10, 2002. You, our customers, responded by reducing water consumption by 12 percent during the second half of the year! Your efforts were important in preserving Portsmouth's water resources. As a direct result of your conservation, the lake water level only fell another seven percent before much-needed rains returned in the late fall and early winter of 2002 bringing reservoir levels up to normal.

A new water supply While residence were implementing ways to conserve and reuse water, the City of Portsmouth initiated the emergency design and construction of a pipeline to provide additional high quality raw water to the city's reservoirs during times of need. With the support and cooperation of top officials from the State of Virginia, the cities of Norfolk and Suffolk, as well as the Virginia Departments of Transportation and Health, this project was completed in record time and now stands ready to supplement Portsmouth's lakes should drought conditions return.

Looking to the Future Population growth, urban development and possible drought conditions will continue to be issues of concern for the Portsmouth Department of Utilities. We ask for your continued support and participation in water conservation, and the protection and enhancement of our waterways.

If you are interested in learning more about the decisions that affect the reliability and quality of your drinking water, please contact the City Clerk at (757) 393-8639 to obtain a schedule of when water utility issues will be brought before the City Council.