From May 18th to 24th, the Town of Purcellville will celebrate National Public Works Week, a time to recognize the invaluable contributions of public works professionals. As Purcellville’s Council debates the upcoming budget, the costs associated with providing clean water and processing wastewater have often come to the forefront of discussions. In light of this, Purcellville News would like to take this opportunity to showcase the hard work and dedication of our water department, an essential team within our public works sector.

Purcellville’s water supply originates from the J.T. Hirst Reservoir, built in 1955, which boasts an operational capacity of 300,000 gallons per day. This reservoir holds approximately 29 million gallons of water, and a 12-inch gravity pipe efficiently transports the water to the water treatment plant for processing.

In addition to the reservoir, Purcellville utilizes several groundwater sources, including the Nature Park Well System, the Main Street Well System, the Jeffries Well, March Well, and Mountain View Well. Each of these wells undergoes thorough processing, which includes filtration and daily testing to ensure the water is free of harmful chemicals. Once treated, this clean water is released into the Town’s main water distribution pipes.

The responsibilities of the water department extend beyond simply providing clear drinking water. They are also tasked with managing the storage in our elevated and ground-level water tanks, where maintaining pressure is critical—especially during fire emergencies. 

Purcellville is fortunate to have an exceptionally knowledgeable and dedicated team within the water department. Their proactive planning and commitment to excellence have saved the Town millions of dollars over the years. The staff takes pride in completing projects in-house, ensuring that they are executed correctly and at significant cost savings to the community.

As Purcellville continues to grow, so does our water system. Each component plays a crucial role in delivering safe and adequate water to all residents and businesses. Our Town’s staff possesses a profound understanding of the integral parts of our water system, ensuring that every detail is meticulously managed.

Every time we turn on our faucets, we can appreciate the extensive efforts that have gone into providing safe and clean water to our homes and businesses. During National Public Works Week, let us recognize and honor the dedicated team of professionals in our water department who work tirelessly to keep our water supply safe and reliable.