Because of the worsening drought conditions, Charlottesville City Council will impose even more water restrictions beginning Oct. 21.
City Council amended its phase II regulations, which went into effect in August, when Charlottesville's water supply dropped below 60 percent of capacity.
As of yesterday, the water supply was at 52.6 percent.
Beginning on Oct. 21, a 50 percent surcharge will apply to all water consumption. Before the amendment, the surcharge only applied to consumption over 4,500 gallons per household per month.
If the water level falls to 45 percent, City spokesman Maurice Jones said, City Council is prepared to implement phase III restrictions that could include yet another surcharge increase.
These extra measures are necessary to help combat the city's shrinking water supply, Jones said.
"Although the council is pleased with residents' conservation efforts, the council wants to help to entice even more conservation," Jones said. "The expansion of the toilet rebate program is an excellent incentive."
A new addition to phase II regulations gives rebates to apartment complexes that install low-flow toilets. The rebate policy went into effect yesterday.
University Director of Utilities Cheryl Gomez said most of the toilets on Grounds are low flow, and the University has "gone way above and beyond the other requirements the city has asked of its residents."
Gomez said the University's efforts to conserve water will intensify as the water shortage persists.
"We all need to be thinking about what we can do as the water level continues to drop," Gomez said.
Energy Program Manager Tony Motto feels the University has made an excellent effort of conserving water.
"I think that the University has made as much as a 27 percent overall decrease in our water consumption," Motto said. "Further measures are about to be approved to help with conservation even more."
The University currently is operating under its own set of phase I restrictions that include installing low-flow shower heads, adding aerators to sinks, using disposable plates in the dining halls and adjusting building temperatures.
"The University's largest water consumption comes from our heating and cooling systems," University Metering Superintendent Ed Brooks said. "By raising the building temperatures to 76 or 78 degrees, we are saving a lot of water."
Brooks said the University is evaluating water usage in dormitories to identify problem areas.
According to Brooks, students living in University housing use 40 to 50 gallons of water per day per person.
According to City Council recommendations, efficient water usage excluding water used for laundry would be approximately 22 gallons per person per day.
Motto says he remains optimistic about student concern over the water shortage.
"We had energy awareness booths set up outside of Thornton Hall [yesterday] and had a great deal of student interest," Motto said.
The energy awareness booths included those from the University Utilities Department, Rideshare and City Council.
The Energy Awareness Fair continues in the University Hospital Cafeteria from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. today.
Gomez emphasized the importance of evaluating water consumption.
"In an emergency situation like this, how are we using water and what can we do differently?" Gomez said. "We all need to take a hard look at what we do."
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