Rapidan Service Authority

09/04/2026

Upgrades to Madison's water and wastewater services are in the works.

Take a look at our newsletter to see how RSA is updating aging infrastructure and enabling economic growth.

https://myemail.constantcontact.com/Stay-Informed--Key-Updates-on-Infrastructure-Projects.html?soid=1135032012415&aid=iYyK3gVehuU

09/03/2026

Your next career could be in water! Offering stable employment and opportunities for advacenment, a career in water utilities benefits both your community and your family.

RSA is hiring! Visit https://www.rapidan.org/employment-opportunities to see what position best fits your experience.

09/01/2026

Don't miss out!

Our monthly newsletter contains all the RSA updates you need to know, including:

• Upcoming improvements to the LOW sewer system and Madison County infrastructure
• Summaries of the most important water news from across Virginia
• RSA highlights, global water news, and more

Make sure to subscribe and share so you don't miss a future issue!

https://conta.cc/4qKztI9

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Welcome to the Official Website of Rapidan Service Authority in Madison, VA!

08/28/2026

At RSA's last Board of Members meeting, funding was allocated for the first project of modernizing the Lake of the Woods sewer system.

The Lake of the Woods is served by 13 sewer vacuum pump stations and its associated conveyance infrastructure. This type of sewer infrastructure dates back to the 1960s and wasn't originally designed for the growth of the area.

This first project will establish a foundation for future work throughout the LOW sewer system, including replacement of the pump stations as recommended by a prior study.

Wade Trim was contracted for their extensive experience in dealing with sewer vacuum systems, and the first project will help both of us delineate which pump stations require rehabilitation or replacement.

View our recent agenda packet for more information on this big step for the Lake of the Woods community.

https://www.rapidan.org/documents/246/RSA_August_2026_BOM_Meeting.pdf

Lake of the Woods Association

08/26/2026

Pet waste isn't just an eyesore. It can contain bacteria, parasites, nitrogen, and phosphorus that may be washed into local waterways from stormwater.

Picking up after your pet helps protects the Rapidan, downstream users, and the Chesapeake Bay while keeping our community cleaner and healthier.

08/21/2026

The Boil Water Advisory for the Lake of the Woods customers on Appleview Court, Birchside Circle, Happy Creek Road, Pine Valley Road, and Pleasant Grove Road has been lifted.

The Boil Water Advisory was issued on 8/19/2026 after service interruption and loss of water pressure for some customers of the Wilderness waterworks due to a water main break on Happy Creek Road. The leak was quickly isolated and repaired; however, a precautionary Boil Water Advisory was issued out of an abundance of caution.

Please view the official BWA Lifted notice and share it with those who might not have seen it.

https://www.rapidan.org/documents/246/Boil-Water-Advisory-Lifted_8.21.26.pdf

08/20/2026

One of the largest factors affecting water quality in the US is excess nutrient runoff from agricultural operations.

These nutrients, primarily phosphorous and nitrogen, fuel algae blooms when they hit water. When the algae die, the resulting bacteria consume large amounts of oxygen, harming aquatic life and ecosystems.

Riparian buffers are a natural and effective tactic to prevent runoff from damaging aquatic ecosystems. Simply put, these are buffers of vegetation such as trees, shrubs, or grasses planted along streams, lakes, ponds, or wetlands.

Check out this diagram or read the article to learn more about how riparian buffers play an integral role in maintaining water quality.



https://www.fs.usda.gov/nac/practices/riparian-forest-buffers.php

08/19/2026

Attention Lake of the Woods customers.

A boil water advisory is in effect for the identified areas until further notice while testing is being performed.

On Wednesday morning a water main break occurred on Happy Creek Road, causing localized pressure loss. The leak was quickly isolated and an alert sent out to the affected customers; however, a Boil Water Advisory is being issued to surrounding customers out of an abundance of caution. Those streets include: Happy Creek Road, Pleasant Grove Road, Pine Valley Road, Birchside Circle, and Appleview Court.

Once the Boil Water Advisory has been lifted, residents will be notified through the same methods of communication used to notify them of the advisory. Find the latest updates on our website at https://www.rapidan.org/recent-news

For more information, please contact:
Adriel Stokes, RSA Public Affairs Manager
540-972-2133

08/19/2026

As part of National Water Quality Month, here's an important fact everyone should know.

Wastewater treatment has improved so dramatically over the years that some states allow "direct potable reuse" of wastewater plant discharge. This means that the treated water meets or exceeds state and national drinking water standards and is suitable for consumption. This practice is more common where drought, population density, and declining water availability are issues.

In Virginia, "indirect potable reuse" projects allow for highly treated wastewater to augment surface water supplies or groundwater aquifers. Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) has such a program, called Sustainable Water Initiative For Tomorrow (SWIFT), which recently hit a milestone of returning 1 billion gallons of reclaimed water to the Potomac aquifer! Don't miss this inspiring story of science and engineering.

The organization is slowly expanding its Sustainable Water Initiative for Tomorrow to add water back to the regional aquifer.

08/14/2026

August is National Water Quality Month, and RSA is proud to deliver our customers a safe and dependable supply of drinking water. https://www.rapidan.org/water-quality-report

We'll also be bringing you some of our favorite water quality facts this month.

Did you know that in the Chesapeake Bay, a single adult oyster can filter up to 50 gallons a day? Repopulating these natural feeders is a great way to help restore polluted waterways.