Drought Conditions Affecting Loudoun County and the Region

Loudoun County officials encourage residents to be aware of the drought conditions affecting Loudoun County, the Commonwealth and the region. The combination of a lack of precipitation and excessive heat has resulted in rapid intensification of drought conditions.

Current Drought Conditions

The National Integrated Drought Information System classifies part of western Loudoun County as experiencing an extreme drought while the rest of the county is in the severe drought category. The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has issued a drought warning advisory that includes Loudoun and 11 other counties in the state.

Loudoun Water

Loudoun Water reports that for water providers on the Potomac River, upstream storage reservoirs are full and there is no current threat to drinking water supplies. There are no voluntary or mandatory water restrictions in place in the region for residents who rely on the Potomac River as the source of their water. Regional water suppliers are monitoring and coordinating water supply data.

Town Residents and Customers

The incorporated towns in Loudoun County provide water and sewer service to residents of the towns and some outlying areas. While there are no countywide water use restrictions in place, some residents who receive water and sewer service from the incorporated towns in Loudoun County are experiencing varying impacts stemming from the drought. The Town of Middleburg has authorized mandatory water conservation measures effective July 18, 2024. Leesburg, Lovettsville, Purcellville and Round Hill are encouraging their customers to take voluntary water conservation measures.

Town residents should consult their town government and water provider for information about any drought-related impacts and water conservation measures.

Residents with Wells

While Loudoun County has no indication that there are extensive impacts on well water supplies due to the current weather conditions, residents who rely on private wells for water in their homes may experience impacts on a case-by-case basis due to the drought. The Virginia Department of Health has published information for the managing of private wells during a drought (PDF), which provides guidance to residents. Additionally, those experiencing issues with their drinking wells can contact the Loudoun County Health Department by email or 703-777-0234 to request information on their well and available licensed well pump installers and drillers.

Agricultural Impacts

Farmers may contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) serving Loudoun County to gain access to a variety of assistance programs designed to help farmers, ranchers, communities and businesses impacted by drought. Users of the FSA/USDA sites must obtain a Service Center Customer ID, which can be obtained on the USDA website.

Water Conservation and Drought Monitoring

DEQ's Virginia Drought Monitoring Task Force monitors drought conditions and makes recommendations. Officials indicate voluntary steps can be taken now by Loudoun residents to help slow the impact of the drought conditions.

Loudoun Water, which provides water and wastewater services to more than 80,000 households in Loudoun County, also encourages wise water use at all times, not only during periods of drought.

Loudoun residents may consider the following steps:

• Begin voluntary water conservation, such as suspending lawn irrigation.
• Check for leaks in faucets and outside spigots.
• Fix toilet leaks.
• Run dishwashers with a full load. If doing dishes by hand, turn off the faucet while scrubbing.
• Shorten your showers or use less bath water.
• Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth.
• Use drought-resistant plants in your yard.

For more information about how our region responds to drought, review the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government's Regional Water Supply and Drought Awareness Response Plan Overview (PDF).

Current Hydrological Conditions

The Loudoun County website provides links to current hydrological conditions in Loudoun, including precipitation, groundwater and streamflow data collected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the United States Geological Survey. Visit loudoun.gov/waterdata for more information.

Fire Prevention

As a reminder, open burning is currently prohibited in Loudoun County. More information from the Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System about regulations regarding open burning is online at loudoun.gov/openburning.

Resources for More Information

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