Stafford County asks residents to voluntarily conserve water as state has seen low rainfall

Low rainfall across the state has prompted the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to issue a drought watch advisory for 50 counties and 23 cities — including Fredericksburg and the counties of Stafford and Spotsylvania — and Stafford officials are asking residents to voluntarily conserve water.

Last month was Stafford’s 25th-driest November on record over the past 131 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The county was 1.51 inches below normal in rainfall.

This year also is the 40th-driest on record as Stafford is down 3.36 inches from normal.

In announcing this information Thursday, Stafford officials said it’s important to recognize that a drought hasn’t been declared. There are three drought stage declarations:

1. Drought watch – Intended to increase awareness in the public and private sectors of climatic conditions that are likely to precede the occurrence of a significant drought event.
2. Drought warning – The onset of a significant drought event is imminent. Steps to help protect current water supplies are recommended.
3. Drought emergency – Mandatory water conservation requirements are required during the height of a very severe or extreme drought.

DEQ also offers tips for residents to conserve water. They include:

• Do not let the faucet run when brushing your teeth; instead, use a glass of water to rinse.
• Do not let the faucet run when rinsing vegetables; instead, use a pan of water or the sink.
• If pre-rinsing dishes, use the sink and do not let the faucet run.
• Repair leaky pipes and faucets. A slow, steady drip can waste 350 gallons of water per month. Not only does this wastewater increase your sewer bill, but it can also increase your energy costs if it is hot water.
• Repair leaky toilets. A leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day.
• Run dishwashers only when full, using the water-saver feature if available.
• Run washing machines only when complete and on the proper load size selection.
• Take shorter showers or a shower instead of a bath.
• Turn off faucets when not in use. Do not let the faucet run when shaving; instead, use rinse water in the sink.

While Stafford is expected to receive precipitation over the next two days, it is not anticipated to be enough to cancel the drought watch, county officials said.

Stafford will keep residents updated as conditions change, they said.