Press Release
Monday – July 12, 2010

James C. Dawson, Executive Director of the Appomattox River Water Authority is asking for voluntary water conservation by its customers due to the declining water level in Lake Chesdin. The Authority serves the Cities of Petersburg and Colonial Heights and the Counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie (including the Dinwiddie County Water Authority) and Prince George.

Presently the Authority’s water source, Lake Chesdin, is more than twenty-inches (20”) below the dam spillway and this warrants calling for voluntary conservation by users of the Authority’s water supply. Hopefully, voluntary conservation will postpone the need for mandatory restrictions. If current conditions continue, however, mandatory water conservation measures will be required when the storage in Lake Chesdin falls below 200 days.

Area homes and businesses should conserve water in any way they can. Some suggestions are to reduce washing of vehicles, sweep paved areas instead of washing them except for health reasons, replenish swimming pools only when necessary, reduce the amount of lawn watering by watering on an odd/even schedule based on the last digit of the address, do not water during the hottest part of the day, and reduce garden, tree, shrub, and flower watering by using soaker hoses instead of sprinklers.

Individuals should assess their usage of water and conserve wherever possible. Please use this resource wisely.


Appomattox River Water Authority
21300 Chesdin Road
Petersburg, Virginia 23803