Voluntary Water Conservation of the Town’s Municipal Water System

The Town of Front Royal has observed that as of December 17, 2017, the 14-day rolling average stream flow rate of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River has dropped below 400 cubic feet per second (cfs), or approximately 260 million gallons per day.

The Town’s permit for water withdrawal from the river issued by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality stipulates certain river flow rates require various conservation measures. As a result of this reduced river flow and in compliance with the issued withdrawal permit, all users of the Town of Front Royal’s municipal water system are requested to observe voluntary water conservation efforts.

Voluntary water conservation practices include the following:

Watering shrubbery, trees, lawns, grass, plants, or any other vegetation from Town water supplies (except indoor plantings, greenhouse and commercial nursery stocks, and new plantings less than one year old) before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.

Limit washing automobiles, trucks, trailers, boats, airplanes, or other types of mobile equipment to only once a week and only before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m. Use of a commercial vehicle wash facility does not need to follow these time restrictions.

Washing of private streets, driveways, parking lots, service station grounds, or other paved outdoor surfaces before 9:00 a.m. and after 4:00 p.m.

Limiting the operation of any ornamental fountains, unless the water is recycled.

Limit filling of swimming and/or wading pools, except that filled pools may be topped off to maintain the appropriate levels for use.

Serving drinking water in restaurants only upon patron request.

Thank you for your assistance in conserving our water resources during this low river flow time period.

Please monitor your local media (Royal Examiner) sources for future reports of water conservation efforts in the Town of Front Royal.

If you have any questions about this voluntary water restriction, please contact the Department of Public Works at (540) 635-7819.