With reservoir levels steadily increasing to over 75 percent as of yesterday, Charlottesville City and Albemarle County officials decided to re-evaluate some water restrictions, including those hindering normal car wash operations.
County car washes will be able to return to full operation immediately, though car wash owners in the city must apply to the Department of Public Works for exception from the city's conservation ordinance.
Jim Palmborg, Charlottesville public utilities manager, said all car wash owners still must produce plans for a 20 percent reduction in water usage, like any other business operating in the city. Those car washes without a reduction plan will not be allowed to reopen.
Palmborg said car wash owners can reopen for business immediately after appeals are approved by the director of public works.
The appeals process is not limited to car washes, Palmborg added. Any business or residence can apply for exception.
The appeals process gives the city flexibility, should drought conditions flare up again soon, City Council member Kevin Lynch said.
"The appeals system gives public works the opportunity to go back to restrictions if necessary," Lynch said. "I'd be hesitant to change the ordinance since we've had four years of dry weather."
During their next meeting on Monday, Council will discuss the possibility of lifting even more of the water restrictions, Lynch said.
In both the County and City, which have implemented similar restriction plans, citizens still may not water lawns, fill pools, wash driveways or run ornamental fountains.
Bill Brent, executive director of the Albemarle County Service Authority, said he hopes "open car washes don't serve as an indication to the community that the crisis is over."
Local car wash owners are keeping this in mind as they prepare to reopen, according to Paul Sisk, general manager of the locally based Tiger Fuel Company.
Sisk, whose company operates three car washes in the area, said he was "very excited" by yesterday's developments and viewed the crisis as a "learning experience" for his business in finding creative methods to conserve water.
Still, Sisk estimates the restrictions have cost Tiger Fuel operated car washes $100,000 for the transportation of outside water, absorption of inactive employees' salaries and lost business.
"We feel like we should have been treated like any other business to begin with" in being allowed to remain open, he said.
The Charlottesville and Albemarle region draws water from four reservoirs at Sugar Hollow, Upper and Lower Ragged Mountain and the South Fork of the Rivanna River.
Although the South Fork reservoir is now full to capacity, those at Sugar Hollow and Ragged Mountain remain down 13 and 11 feet, respectively.
Palmborg said water authorities now are attempting to draw most water from the South Fork reservoir to allow the other three to return to their normal capacity.
Yesterday, the region's cumulative water supply stood at 75.9 percent.The supply has steadily increased for the past several days.
Brent said county officials will drop phase two restrictions, which include hotels being required to reduce laundry service, if the water supply reaches and stays at a minimum of 85 percent for seven days.
Phase one restrictions, including bans on lawn watering and offering water in restaurants, will not be dropped "until the [Service Authority's] Board determines the crisis is over," Brent said.
Total water usage in the City and County has been reduced from an average of 11 million gallons per day before officials started to call for conservationto 6.7 million gallons on Tuesday, he said.
"The community has responded tremendously," Brent said. "I didn't expect we'd reduce the level so much"
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