King William Reservoir
 
 
 You are here: Skip Navigation LinksHome > Background > Overview
Skip Navigation Links
Home
BackgroundExpand Background
Archeological CenterExpand Archeological Center
Projects and ActivitiesExpand Projects and Activities
RecreationExpand Recreation
Contacts and MediaExpand Contacts and Media
ReferenceExpand Reference

 View the
 Project Timeline
Site Search
Contact Information
Waterworks
Contact Waterworks
City Government
Contact City Government
purpose

The primary purpose of the new lake is to provide additional drinking water to a steadily growing population on the Virginia Peninsula. Uncertainty regarding future climate change and drought severity further compounds the need to increase water supplies in the region.  Since the early 90's, notices from the Virginia Department of Health illustrate the regulatory requirement to expand supplies from the State agency that issues operating permits for all water utilities.  Water will be pumped from the Mattaponi River during periods of high flow and stored in the lake for use during drought and dry climate periods. Additional information regarding how utilites and communities will be planning for climate change can be found at the following sites:

project features

  • 12.2 billion gallon reservoir, 1,500 acres
  • 75 mgd capacity Mattaponi River
    pumping station
  • 54-inch diameter, 75 mgd raw water
    pipeline
  • 50 mgd capacity King William Reservoir
    pumping station
  • 42- and 48-inch, 50 mgd raw water
    pipeline
  • Two directional drill crossings to avoid
    wetlands
  • 6,100 acres of compensation
  • Fisheries mitigation
  • Mattaponi & Pamunkey River ecological
    monitoring
  • Flow and water quality monitoring
  • Cohoke Creek flood/flow control
  • Recreation facilities
  planning for
the future


To meet the additional water supply needs of the lower Virginia Peninsula through the year 2050 and beyond, the King William Reservoir is one part of a three-part solution that also includes
conservation and desalting of brackish groundwater.  The desalting facilities at Lee Hall have provided more than 8 billion gallons since inception in 1998.  More information can be found in the City's approved Water Conservation Management Plan.