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Shenandoah council adopts Source Water Protection Plan required by state regulators
Summary
The Shenandoah Town Council unanimously adopted a Source Water Protection Plan on March 10, 2026, following recommendations from the Virginia Office of Drinking Water to protect the town's wells; the council also heard staff warnings about sewer blockages and a recent security response at a local fuel facility.
The Shenandoah Town Council on March 10 adopted a Source Water Protection Plan intended to safeguard the town's drinking-water sources, a move prompted by recommendations from the Virginia Office of Drinking Water.
The resolution, described by Town Manager Charlie Jenkins as the product of Office of Drinking Water staff and town employees, was approved by motion of Council Member Christopher Reisinger and seconded by Vice Mayor Kite. The recorded roll call showed Vice Mayor Kite and council members Denise Cave, Lynn Fox, Brenda Haggett, I. Michael Lowe and Christopher Reisinger voting yea; Mayor Clinton O. Lucas, Jr. was recorded as abstaining. No NAY votes were recorded.
The plan responds to an Office of Drinking Water survey that recommended physical protections and redundancy for the town's supply: installing a fence around the well house at Well Pump No. 1 and around the 10th Street water tank, and providing emergency power for Well Pumps No. 1 and 2. Jenkins said he is in the process of updating the town's waterworks plan to reflect those recommendations and the adopted source-protection measures.
Council also heard related operational notices: Jenkins reported that a homeowner's sewer lateral on Eighth Street had been severely clogged by wet wipes and grease "balls," which the Public Works crew flushed out; he reminded residents not to flush wipes or pour grease down drains. Earlier in the meeting Jenkins noted a response to an incident at an AmeriGas facility that required the Shenandoah Fire Company to spray an estimated 100,000 gallons to secure the site; Jenkins presented that information as part of the broader water- and safety-related updates to the council.
The adopted Source Water Protection Plan is dated March 2026 and the resolution record indicates a copy of the plan is attached to the council minutes. The council did not set an implementation timetable in the meeting minutes; Jenkins' comments indicate next steps will include updates to the town's waterworks documentation and follow-up on the Office of Drinking Water recommendations.
