VIRGINIA — Caroline County has elevated its water restrictions to the highest level yet and is prohibiting unnecessary water use as extreme drought conditions continue to strain the county’s water system.
County officials announced Friday that water restrictions first implemented on April 16 have been escalated again after having only a limited impact on overall water demand. Restrictions were increased to Level 2 on May 21 and were raised to Level 3 on Friday.
According to county officials, Caroline County is experiencing extreme drought conditions that are expected to continue for at least the next 30 days. The drought has reduced groundwater recharge and placed additional pressure on the county’s water supply infrastructure.
Officials said increased seasonal irrigation demand has contributed to significantly higher-than-normal water usage across the county.
“These conditions, combined with increased seasonal irrigation demand, have resulted in significantly higher-than-normal water usage across the system,” officials said. “In recent days, the heavy operation of irrigation systems has exceeded typical domestic demand and placed substantial strain on the county’s water storage, treatment and distribution capacity.”
Under the Level 3 restrictions, lawn watering is prohibited and the use of automatic sprinkler systems is not allowed.
Residents may water gardens only with a hand-held hose or manual dripper system. Properties with odd-numbered addresses may water on Wednesdays and Sundays, while even-numbered addresses may water on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Properties without an address are considered even-numbered.
Vehicle washing is limited to hand washing with a bucket for windows, mirrors, lights and the removal of corrosive substances. Commercial car washes remain permitted, but excessive water use for vehicle washing is prohibited.
The cleaning of paved surfaces is also prohibited except when necessary for health, sanitation or public safety purposes.
New pools and spas may not be filled under the restrictions. Existing pools and spas may only be filled using a bucket filled directly from a tap. Filling more than 1,000 gallons into an existing pool or spa requires approval from the county’s Department of Public Utilities.
County officials also said all non-essential and wasteful water use is prohibited.
Residents seeking additional information can contact the Caroline County Department of Public Utilities at 804-633-4390.
