The water runs out in Hillsboro

HILLSBORO, Va. (Map, News) - Virginia’s long-running drought hit home in Hillsboro last week when its well ran dry and the taps stopped running.

The county plans to start delivering water three days a week to the small northern Loudoun County town to keep its water system running until an alternative can be found. There are 38 homes that depend on the municipal water station. The town’s other water source, a spring, is off-limits because of contamination issues, officials said.

“Right now they are operating in a situation where they have to shut down the water supply three nights a week,” Supervisor Jim Burton said, “It’s getting worse and worse.”

Because the well is recharging at a much slower speed than normal, the county is preparing a $12,000 emergency bailout.

“If we don’t start trucking in water, there’s no alternative,” said assistant county executive John Sandy, “They won’t have any way to refill the well.”

The episode raises awareness about the lingering problems troubling water supplies in the county. Although a town running dry seems is rare, Burton said, the county had to make a similar offer to help the town of Aldie a few years ago, Burton said.

This year has been particularly difficult. Northern Virginia communities have been facing water shortages and warnings since this summer and reservoirs across Loudoun County have been in emergency status for months.

The Beaver Dam Reservoir at Goose Creek remains in a drought emergency, the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority reported Tuesday, even as its supply has started to refill.

The reservoir is up 63 million gallons from its low of 200 million gallons in October, but with just 18 percent of capacity on hand; spokeswoman Samantha Villegas said all the mandatory drought restrictions remain in place.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com