Virginia Beach Urges Residents to Cut Nonessential Water Use Amid Drought

Virginia Beach is asking residents to reduce nonessential water use as drought leaves the reservoir that supplies the city about 10 percent below normal levels, Public Utilities Director Bob Montague said.

The city urged limits on filling pools, washing cars and similar uses. Montague said it is a more significant drought than typical years and the last comparable reservoir impact was in 2002. Norfolk owns the reservoir Virginia Beach relies on and monitors levels closely.

Despite summer flooding in Norfolk, Montague said rainfall often soaked into the ground instead of refilling storage. Near-term conditions depend on rainfall; a tropical system can reverse shortages quickly, but each event differs.

Officials suggested practical steps such as running full laundry and dishwasher loads. Many pools are already closed for the season, but outdoor watering and car washing remain targets for voluntary savings.

Email the Norfolk City Council:
Kenneth Alexander, mayor@norfolk.gov,
Martin Thomas, martin.thomas@norfolk.gov,
Courtney Doyle, courtney.doyle@norfolk.gov,
Mamie Johnson, mamie.johnson@norfolk.gov,
John Paige, john.paige@norfolk.gov,
Thomas Smigiel, thomas.smigiel@norfolk.gov,
Jeremy McGee, jeremy.mcgee@norfolk.gov,
Carlos Clanton, carlos.clanton@norfolk.gov,

Virginia Beach City Council:
Robert Dyer, mayorsoffice@vbgov.com,
Michael Berlucchi, mberlucc@vbgov.com,
Stacy Cummings, stcummings@vbgov.com,
Barbara Henley, bhenley@vbgov.com,
David Hutcheson, dhutcheson@vbgov.com,
Cal Jackson-Green, cjacksongreen@vbgov.com,
Robert Remick, wremick@vbgov.com,
Amelia Ross-Hammond, arosshammond@vbgov.com,
Jennifer Rouse, jvrouse@vbgov.com,
Joashua Schulman, jschulman@vbgov.com,
Rosemary Wilson, rcwilson@vbgov.com,
Group email: CityCouncil@vbgov.com,

Virginia Beach School Board:
Kathleen Brown, Kathleen.Brown@vbcpsboard.com,
Carolyn Weems, Carolyn.Weems@vbcpsboard.com,
Mark Bohenstiel, Mark.Bohenstiel@vbcpsboard.com,
Michael Callan, Michael.Callan@vbcpsboard.com,
David Culpepper, David.Culpepper@vbcpsboard.com,
Matt Cummings, Matt.Cummings@vbcpsboard.com,
Rose Dwyer, Rose.Dwyer@vbcpsboard.com,
Sharon Felton, Sharon.Felton@vbcpsboard.com,
Alveta Green, Alveta.Green@vbcpsboard.com,
Kimberly Melnyk, Kimberly.Melnyk@vbcpsboard.com,
Melinda Rogers, Melinda.Rogers@vbcpsboard.com,
Group email: SchoolBoard@vbcpsboard.com,

Email the Norfolk School Board:
Tiffany Moore-Buffaloe, tiffany.buffaloe@nps.k12.va.us,
Sarah DiCalogero, sarah.dicalogero@nps.k12.va.us,
Tanya Bhasin, tbhasin@nps.k12.va.us,
Adale Martin, amartin@nps.k12.va.us,
Kenneth Paulson, ken.paulson@nps.k12.va.us,
Jodi Slaughter, jodi.slaughter@nps.k12.va.us,
Alfreda Thomas, alfreda.thomas@nps.k12.va.us,