Issued September 14, 2026
The Town of Stuart is asking water customers to voluntarily reduce outdoor and non-essential water use until further notice.
The Town’s water is safe to drink and the supply is adequate. This is a request for prudence, not a restriction. No penalties attach to it.
Why the Town is asking
The Town draws all of its water from the South Mayo River. Town operators measure the depth of flow over the intake check dam and report each reading to the Virginia Department of Health. The reading taken on the morning of September 14, 2026 was 1-5/8 inches — the lowest since the Town began keeping this record.
Patrick County lies within the Roanoke River drought evaluation region, which the Commonwealth placed under a drought emergency advisory in July 2026. Governor Spanberger has asked Virginians to conserve water.
In August the Town set out in advance the river levels at which it would take each step, and shared those levels with the Virginia Department of Health. This request is the step that the current level calls for. The Town is following a plan it published before it needed it.
What we are asking customers to do
Please defer:
- Lawn and garden irrigation — established lawns recover from dormancy
- Washing vehicles, siding, decks, driveways and sidewalks
- Filling or topping off swimming pools
Please do:
- Report leaks. A running toilet or a dripping outdoor spigot wastes more water than most households can save by any other means. Call the Town Office at (276) 694-3811.
- Run dishwashers and washing machines with full loads
- Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator rather than running the tap to get it cold
Ordinary indoor use — drinking, cooking, bathing, laundry and sanitation — is not affected, and the Town is not asking anyone to change it.
What the Town is doing
- Measuring the river at the intake and reporting each reading to the Virginia Department of Health
- A staff gauge has been installed at the intake so readings are consistent and repeatable
- Bringing a drought response plan and a water conservation ordinance to Town Council on October 21, 2026
- Scoping the rehabilitation of the Town’s two standby wells
If conditions continue to decline, the next step is mandatory restrictions on these same outdoor uses. Voluntary reductions now make that less likely.
Questions: Town Office, 100 Patrick Avenue, Stuart · (276) 694-3811
Bryce M. Simmons, PE, Town Manager