Press Release
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The Moores Creek Advanced Water Resource Recovery Facility treats 10 million gallons of wastewater per day. 
[Photo Credit: Rob Woodside]

RWSA Surpasses Expectations for Nutrient Removal 

Effective Wastewater Treatment Processes Mean Good Things for Local Rivers
Charlottesville, VA... May 13, 2026... The Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority is pleased to announce that it only used 35% of its permitted nitrogen discharge allotment and 17% of its permitted phosphorus discharge allotment in 2025. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) administers the permitting program and sets discharge limits based on wastewater plant design capabilities. Guiding principles are derived from the Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, a subsidiary of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, which was established by the Clean Water Act of 1972. 
Background
The Moores Creek Advanced Water Resources Recovery Facility treats 10 million gallons of wastewater per day (~83 million pounds of water). Located north of I-64 between the Woolen Mills and Belmont neighborhoods, the facility serves the City of Charlottesville, the urban ring of Albemarle County, and Crozet. Everything that goes down a sink drain or is flushed down a toilet ends up at the facility.
MCAWRRF Wastewater Treatment
Wastewater contains many contaminants when it enters a treatment facility. Click to view video.
Wastewater entering the plant contains many contaminants, including human waste, food residues, industrial waste, minerals, fertilizers, detergents, bacteria, parasites, viruses, chemicals, oils, and trash. The wastewater treatment process aims to remove these contaminants so that water can be safely returned to local waterways. 

As part of the permitting process, DEQ establishes categorical discharge limits that operating facilities must adhere to. In 2025, RWSA was permitted to discharge up to 19,637 lbs. of phosphorus and 282,994 lbs. of nitrogen. This amounts to approximately 53.8 lbs. of phosphorus and 775.3 lbs. of nitrogen daily. RWSA minimized the discharge amounts and only released 3,311 lbs. of phosphorus and 98,362 lbs. of nitrogen, or 9.07 lbs. and 269.5 lbs., respectively, per day.

Treatment Process
It can take up to 20 hours for wastewater to pass through the Moores Creek Advanced Water Resources Recovery Facility. There is a series of screens, clarifiers (settling basins), aeration basins, filters, and ultraviolet light treatment that cleans and disinfects the water before it is released back into Moore’s Creek. The treatment process relies on both biological and chemical processes to produce clean and safe water.
Click to enlarge.
Once treated, water is released into Moores Creek, which flows into the Rivanna River, then the James River, and ultimately reaches the Chesapeake Bay.

Nutrient Exchange Program  
RWSA is an active member of the Virginia Nutrient Credit Exchange Association. The program includes both public and private wastewater treatment facilities across Virginia. Entities can trade credits collectively to enhance water quality across multiple sources. Well-performing facilities that discharge below their permitted limits can sell their unused credits to the nutrient exchange. In fiscal year 2025, RWSA generated $108,804.76 in revenue from credits. The inflow of revenue helps offset operating costs.
How Does RWSA Achieve these Efficiencies?
The ability to exceed the governing expectations for nutrient removal is attributed to the dedication of the wastewater team and the community's commitment to funding RWSA's infrastructure projects. The Moores Creek Advanced Water Resources Recovery Facility operates around the clock and on holidays to ensure wastewater is treated effectively, so that downstream aquatic life is not harmed by contaminants.
MCAWRRF Treated Water
Clear, treated water is discharged from the Moores Creek Advanced Water Resources Recovery Facility. Click to view video.
The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority & Solid Waste Authority’s mission is to serve the Charlottesville, Albemarle, and UVA communities by providing high-quality water and wastewater treatment, refuse, and recycling services in a financially responsible and sustainable manner.

RWSA provides wholesale water and sewer services to the Charlottesville Department of Utilities and Albemarle County Service Authority. 

RWSA manages five reservoirs, nine dams, six drinking water treatment plants, five finished water pumping stations, eleven water storage tanks, four wastewater treatment plants, and nine wastewater pumping stations. 

RWSA processes an average of 10.2 million gallons of drinking water and 10.2 million gallons of wastewater each day.
Contact
Westley Kern
Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority
wkern@rivanna.org
434-977-2970 Ext. 117
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695 Moores Creek Ln
Charlottesville, VA 22902
USA