Voluntary Water Conservation Request

Issued September 29, 2026
Over the past year, the entire Commonwealth of Virginia has seen significantly lower than
average rainfall. The region around the Town of Rocky Mount has received approximately half
of the rain that would fall in a normal or average year. This has impacted creeks, streams, rivers,
lakes, and aquifers in the area. Due to the significant reduction in rainfall over the past year, the
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality currently has the Roanoke Region (including the
Town of Rocky Mount) in a Drought Emergency based on precipitation, groundwater levels,
streamflow, and reservoir levels. Most regions in Virginia are experiencing some level of
drought. Virginia’s Governor has asked all Virginians to look for ways to conserve water and has
even visited the Roanoke region at least once to meet with officials and reiterate the need to
conserve water.
The Town of Rocky Mount is required to adopt a Drought Response and Water Emergency Plan.
That Plan details specific triggers that require the Town to go into various voluntary and
mandatory stages of water conservation. The triggers include flow levels of the Blackwater River
(the Town’s main source of water), water demand/usage, rainfall, weather forecasts, outages at
the water plant, or other actions taken at the state level. Now that we have reached several of
those triggers, the Town is required to enter Stage Two: Water Concern and Voluntary
Conservation. This means that the Town is now asking all residential and commercial customers
to voluntarily reduce outdoor and non-essential water use until further notice.
It is important to note that the Town’s water is safe to drink, and the supply is adequate at
this time. This is a request for prudence, not a restriction.
Why is the Town asking customers to conserve?

• The Town draws its water directly from the Blackwater River. Town staff have been
  monitoring the river’s flow and gauge height, which has reached levels that prompted
  this voluntary water conservation request.
• Franklin County lies within the Roanoke River drought evaluation region, which the
  Commonwealth has placed under a drought emergency advisory.
  What is the Town asking customers to do?
  Please limit or defer the following:
• Lawn and garden irrigation. (Established lawns can recover from dormancy.)
• Washing vehicles, siding, decks, driveways, and sidewalks.
• Filling or topping off swimming pools.

Please do the following:

• Check for leaks at your home or business.
  A running toilet or a dripping outdoor spigot wastes more water than most households
  can save by any other means.
• Report water leaks.
  Call the Town Office at (540) 483-5243 if you see water leaks (water running in the
  street, water pooling around water meters, etc.).
• Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads (instead of small or partial
  loads).
• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator rather than running the faucet to get it cold.
  The Town is not asking anyone to stop ordinary, indoor water use (drinking, cooking,
  bathing, laundry, and sanitation, etc.), but instead, to reduce water usage when possible—
  shorter showers, not letting water run when washing dishes, etc.
  What is the Town doing?
• Monitoring the river flow and gauge height for changing river conditions.
• Adjusting water system operations to conserve more water.
• Monitoring water loss and repairing water leaks as quickly as possible.
  What are we trying to prevent?
  If the Blackwater River flow continues to decline, the next step is mandatory restrictions.
  Voluntary reductions now will help reduce the amount of water withdrawn from the river.

If you need more information, please contact the Town’s Utility Department