Hanover County is taking proactive steps to strengthen its water system following the January 2025 regional water crisis. The goal is simple: make sure residents continue to have reliable water service, even during emergencies.

  1. Immediate action is already underway
    • The Board has approved $4 million in short-term improvements to boost reliability within the next year. These projects are designed to keep water flowing during normal, everyday demand levels.
    • Key upgrades include:
      • Portable booster pumps at Route 1 and Route 33
      • Improvements to the Airport East Water Pump Station
    • These improvements can be funded without new taxes or fees, using existing capital funds through a budget transfer.
  2. These upgrades add emergency backup capacity
    • The short-term plan will allow Hanover to:
      • Maintain water service during average daily demand (about 8.4 million gallons per day)
      • Access nearly 6 millions gallons per day in emergency supply, in addition to 4 million gallons per day from our Doswell water treatment plant, if needed
    • In practical terms, this means the County will be better prepared if there is another disruption in regional water service.
  3. A phased, long-term strategy is in place
    • The County is not stopping with short-term fixes. The plan includes:
      • Mid-term (2–5 years):
        • New water storage tank
        • Additional connection to Henrico County for backup supply
      • Long-term (10–20 years):
        • Evaluating a new, County-owned water source from the Pamunkey River
        • Or expanding regional partnerships with Henrico
    • The long-term goal is to ensure enough capacity to meet future growth and reduce reliance on a single water source.
  4. Why this matters
    • Right now, Hanover relies heavily on water from the City of Richmond. This plan:
      • Improves reliability during emergencies
      • Adds redundancy and flexibility
      • Prepares for future growth
      • Explores options for greater independence

    Bottom line

    Hanover is moving quickly to strengthen its water system now, while also planning for long-term reliability. The $4 million investment is the first step in a larger strategy to ensure residents have consistent, dependable water service no matter what happens in the region.

     

    Board of Supervisors Meeting March 25, 2026

    Public Utilities Director Matt Longshore presented the Water Supply Resilience Feasibility Study alongside partners Dewberry and Arcadis.