06/09/2026
**Press Release from the Louisa County Water Authority**
MANDATORY WATER RESTRICTIONS
DROUGHT COMPELS THE NEED FOR ZION CROSSROADS AND LAKE ANNA CUSTOMERS OF LOUISA COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT WATER USE
Louisa County Water Authority Board of Directors voted to issue a Declaration of a Water Watch. On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, the Louisa County Water Authority Executive Director, Pam Baughman, made the decision to request mandatory water restrictions due to the decline in water supply and limited precipitation in the forecast.
Months of dry conditions, with very little rainfall, have caused the Green Springs / Zion Crossroads and New Bridge / Lake Anna Well levels to drop below normal levels for this time of year. Water conservation is always a preferred practice, but the continued dry weather requires mandatory restrictions be enacted. Mandating restrictions is intended to prevent shortages of safe potable drinking water for the County citizens connected to these public water systems.
Widespread drought across the Commonwealth has been monitored throughout the Spring of 2026. The Department of Environmental Quality has issued a drought watch advisory to prepare Virginians that the “onset of a significant drought event is imminent”. Rains in late May to early June helped “improve streamflow and upper soil moisture” but did little to improve “deeper soil moisture and groundwater” levels. Twenty of the twenty-four monitoring wells across the Commonwealth “are still below the 10th percentile for this time of year.”
Louisa County Water Authority is mandating the following restrictions for all customers on Green Springs / Zion Crossroads and New Bridge / Lake Anna Well Systems:
1) NO WATERING of outside shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, home vegetable gardens, or any other vegetation, except from a watering can or other container not exceeding three (3) gallons in capacity. No sprinklers, irrigation systems or any other method of outside watering. The only exception is for commercial greenhouses or nursery stocks, which may be watered to preserve plant life before 7:00 am or after 8:00 pm.
2) NO WASHING of automobiles, trucks, trailers, or any other type of mobile equipment, except at a licensed commercial car wash facility.
3) NO WASHING of sidewalks, streets, driveways, parking lots, service station aprons, exteriors of homes or apartments, commercial or industrial buildings or any other outdoor surface except where mandated by federal, state, or local law.
4) NO OPERATING of an ornamental fountain or other structure making a similar use of water.
5) NO FILLING of swimming or wading pools requiring more than five (5) gallons of water, or the refilling of swimming or wading pools which were drained after the effective date of the declaration of emergency. There are some exceptions to prevent structural damage. Please contact the LCWA business office for additional information.
6) NO FIRE HYDRANT USE for any purpose other than County related business and suppression of fires.
7) NO SERVING of water in restaurants, unless requested.
8) NO OPERATION of water-cooled comfort air conditioning that does not have water-conservation equipment in operation.
9) ANY ADDITIONAL water use restrictions as deemed necessary.
Any violation of the mandatory restrictions during this emergency declaration will be enforced as a Class 3 Misdemeanor.
If conditions continue to deteriorate, emergency measures would be applied to include rationing, suspension of new connections, and the application of emergency rates.
“Water is a precious commodity and should always be treated as such, but especially during drought conditions. Please do your part to ensure water resources are available for years to come,” Judson Foster, LCWA Chairman.
