By Dana Hull
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 29, 1998; Page V04

The water shortage in Spotsylvania County is continuing, with no end in sight.

Last week, the county Board of Supervisors decided to further restrict the use of water by commercial businesses. "This is outdoor use, like washing buildings, sidewalks, or vehicles. It's prohibited," said Bruce Boyer, Spotsylvania's water resources engineer. "What we tried to get across is that we are interested in stopping any nonessential uses of water."

Boyer didn't rule out rationing water if the drought persists.

Mandatory restrictions on water use have been in effect since July, when residents were asked to stop washing their cars and watering their lawns. Restaurants no longer serve water unless patrons request it.

Implementation of the latest set of restrictions will be delayed for two weeks, so businesses will have time to prepare or make arrangements to purchase water elsewhere. Landscape companies, for example, will no longer be allowed to water lawns or sod in new developments with county water. The board also moved to ban the use of hydrants except for fighting fires.

Officials attribute Spotsylvania's water crisis to a lack of rain, the strain of new housing developments on existing supplies and delays in getting the proper permits to construct a new reservoir.

Spotsylvania draws most of its water from its Ni River Reservoir, which is hovering at dangerously low levels. The county is also joining with the City of Fredericksburg to operate a new reservoir on the banks of Motts Run that is expected to come online in June.

Spotsylvania already buys water from Stafford County and Fredericksburg. Spotsylvania officials are hoping a stepped-up education campaign will help persuade residents to further cut back on water use at home.

Some Spotsylvania officials have said that rationing water in homes might be necessary. "It will depend on how well the conservation program we're trying to put in place is accepted by residents," said Boyer, the county's water resources engineer. "I'm still hoping that we can develop other possibilities. I'm not ready to predict rations just yet."

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