Sugar Hollow Dam Rubber Crest Repair

Last Updated: April 28, 2025

The Sugar Hollow Reservoir, built in 1947, holds 367 million gallons of water. The South Rivanna and Observatory Water Treatment Plants process this water, which is then distributed to the City of Charlottesville and the immediate urban ring in Albemarle County.

Photograph taken by Robert Woodside, GIS Coordinator for RWSA

In January 2024, the rubber bladder affixed to the dam’s crest experienced a mechanical issue, allowing additional water to flow downstream. This event caused RWSA to reevaluate the system’s design and redundancies to prevent recurrences.

Last fall, RWSA lowered the reservoir to work on the rubber bladder and its piping support systems. The rubber bladder is located on top of the concrete dam and helps maintain the reservoir’s pool elevation.

The timing of the project was carefully considered. The reservoir was to be lowered after the summer’s high water usage season but before the onset of freezing winter weather. While lowered, RWSA has had the time to evaluate, design, and bid out the desired modifications.

In the coming weeks, RWSA’s contractor will perform the last modifications by welding together new pneumatic air supply lines that feed the rubber bladder. Once complete, the bladder will reinflate, allowing RWSA to maximize the reservoir’s storage capacity.