More Thoughts about Gordonsville's Water and Sewer Systems
- Sunnie Capelle
- Jun 22
- 4 min read
I’ve heard a lot of ideas and comments about the water and sewer issues in the Town of Gordonsville. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is a simple fix.
I think we should be very careful considering the idea of taking over the Gordonsville systems. That might be a future option. But for now, I think it’s smarter to keep the pressure on RSA and explore every option with them before jumping into taking over a system that isn’t fully understood. It’s like buying a used car—we don’t want to drive off with a full gas tank only to find out the engine is blown. Just look at Greene County. They pulled out of RSA, thinking it would be easy, but it doesn’t seem their situation has improved much if any (see #2 below).
And this isn’t just a Town of Gordonsville issue. Orange County’s entire public water supply comes from just one source-the Rapidan River. Many of us who have been here long enough know that’s a risk. And now the Commonwealth is requiring us to take part in regional water planning with other counties. That could limit – or even expand - Gordonsville’s options down the road. So, I think we should be careful and deliberate and keep all options open.
This is a complex problem. It doesn’t have a quick fix. I have been investigating and learning about the County's water issues since working on the Wilderness Crossing proposal (I voted no) where it was revealed that the County had more significant water issues than was previously believed. As Planning Commissioner, I don’t have any authority over RSA. But if I’m elected to the Board, I’ll be in a position to work on this issue to get real answers and make real progress. Our current District 1 Supervisor is a recent member of the RSA board and I intend to do the same if I'm elected. Those who know me and my record in the County know that I’ll dig in until we get results.
Here’s what I see happening now:
Gordonsville’s water and sewer systems have long-standing problems, some that existed before RSA, and others that may be due to RSA. For example, some sewer lines installed long before RSA took over don’t have enough slope, which can lead to backups and odor. That’s an expensive fix.
The system’s ownership is confusing. The Town handles water lines, but RSA handles sewer. The water itself passes through three sets of hands before it gets to the residents: the Town of Orange, RSA, and the Town of Gordonsville.
Greene County’s exit from RSA didn’t go smoothly. Greene grew too much too fast. We all see it on Route 29 in Ruckersville and on the other side of Sheetz towards Charlottesville. We also see it around Preddy Creek. Apartments, townhouses, and houses going up everywhere. There was recently talk about Greene using wells, but it turned out the wells they thought they could use weren’t up to the task. And new wells are millions of dollars. They’re also talking about building a reservoir-but they don’t have the money. So, they’ve talked about adding a “reservoir fee” to future new homes. This is the classic Northern Virginia developer playbook: build too much, leave the local taxpayers with a big bill, and then claim it can be solved by building even more houses. That’s not a solution—but it should be a warning to Orange County and District 1.
RSA itself has problems. I have been talking to those who know about the system and have also read the LOW report (linked and quotes below). I don’t believe they have effective maintenance or preventive maintenance plans. Some of these issue that I think pertain to the Gordonsville system have been documented in relation to the LOW system – so it’s highly likely some of the same problems exist in the Gordonsville system.
Here are some illuminating quotes from the LOW (not Gordonsville) report :“An investigation by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) of the contaminated water crisis affecting thousands of residents of eastern Orange County in late August makes it clear … that the Rapidan Service Authority (RSA) has enormous room for improvement.”
“The report released by ODW Director Dwayne Roadcap points to four major problems: (1) a communication breakdown, with RSA not promptly informing regulatory bodies of equipment problems at the water treatment plant; (2) electrical and installation failures, with “repeated electrical issues and the use of temporary wiring played a critical role in the failure of the pumps”; (3) RSA’s “inadequate monitoring and emergency response”; and (4) RSA’s inadequate oversight of contractors, which “contributed to the problem, as vital information about the pump installations and electrical work was not properly communicated.”I think RSA could use some fresh staff with fresh eyes and a more modern view of water/sewer system operation. Lack of planning, maintenance, and process leads to low quality, higher costs, and other issues. Exactly some of the problems Gordonsville is facing now.
The picture I get is that RSA can do a much better job maintaining and managing the system. In the long run that will lead to better quality and lower costs. And maybe most importantly- RSA can do a much better job keeping their customers informed.
I encourage Gordonsville residents who are interested in RSA to visit their website and review the meeting agendas. You’ll find a lot of information there. Also, all of their Board meetings are public and I encourage residents to start attending them.
Here are some helpful links:RSA Webpage: https://rapidan.org/
RSA Meetings and Agendas: https://rapidan.org/meeting-agendas
Article from FXBG Advance with link to VDH investigation into the LOW shutdown due to odor: https://www.fxbgadvance.com/p/analysis-rapidan-service-authority
This agenda from RSA has their response to the VDH Investigation: https://rapidan.org/documents/246/RSA_Nov_2024_BOM_Agenda.pdf
DEQ Regional Planning: https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/water-quantity/water-supply-planning/water-supply-planning-resources