City of Richmond and Regional Partners Monitoring River Levels

The City of Richmond is closely monitoring the river levels, along with our regional partners Chesterfield, Goochland, Hanover, Henrico, and Powhatan counties, as part of the James River Regional Flow Management Plan. The dry weather and lack of significant rainfall in western Virginia in the fall of 2019 could have lead to a call for voluntary water conservation in the metro Richmond area.

The Richmond region is supplied with water by the James River basin, the largest watershed in the state. Water levels locally are affected when there are dry conditions and lack of rainfall within the drainage basin is issued asking all residents in the City of Richmond and surrounding counties to voluntarily reduce water usage.

Water conservation, though, should be an everyday practice for all residents and businesses. Conserving water is an important tool in reducing water demand. Water conservation tips can be found here http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/office-of-drinking-water/water-conservation-tips/.

Citizens Academy 2019 -- Second Week at the Wastewater Treatment Plant

To view as a slideshow, click on the first photo.

After hearing about stormwater management and the flood wall, we're ready to tour!

First stop is where all the garbage that is not sewerage is pulled out of the water...

....by several of these big combing machines

Just a sample of all the things in wastewater that are not biodegradable

We have to take several large containers of this to the landfill daily; and even throughout the night when it rains. Who flushed a Big Gulp cup? And also, flushable wipes do not flush. Put them in the trash can, not the toilet.

Outside the filtration building

Now the combed out water is ready to treat

Geese like to hang out at the Wastewater Treatment Plant, but this group is heading to Florida

We thought these were bats eating bugs and mosquitoes, but a Twitter follower said they're probably chimney swift birds.

Separating this stuff from the water

Night falls at the Wastewater Plant and class is dismissed!

Citizens Academy 2019 - First Week at the Operations Center

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DPU Director Calvin Farr welcomed the 2019 class

2019 Citizens Academy class

Deputy Director Wayne Lassiter gave the financial overview

Program and Operations Manager Larry Grant explained customer service 

Utilities Field Supervisor Rodney Munford explains meter reading process

Program and Operations Manager Mickel Johnson explains streetlight history and operations

Warehouse and Materials Supervisor Jeff Carter 

Streetlight display

Answering questions after the presentation

Tour of the SCADA room to learn how natural gas flow around the region is monitored

Meter reading questions were popular!

Filling out satisfaction surveys after the session

Boxed dinners!

More meter questions!

The Operations Center Atrium