COMMENTARY: ‘Safe Yield’ from City's Water Reservoir Won’t Meet Future Demands

Water rates will likely increase due to over-reliance on backup sources and neglected infrastructure

Waller Mill Reservoir in Williamsburg supplies most of the City’s water, and also provides a place for outdoor recreation like hiking, boating and fishing. (Photo Credit: George Arbogust)

As the summer of 2024 heated up and rain disappeared for what seemed like months, the resiliency of the local water supply became an issue of concern. Specifically, whether the available supply – already strained by drought and development – would be sufficient to meet future needs. Taking into account the growth ambitions of the City, the College of William and Mary and Colonial Williamsburg, the answer is clearly no.

Last year, the drought-like conditions, on top of ever-increasing demand, regularly pushed our water system past State-dictated safety limits. Unfortunately, the City leadership has mostly failed for years to consider the impact of growth and drought on water supplies.

After I made several inquiries with the City, the water system came up at a City Council Meeting in June 2024. Incredibl…