Contact Information

Water Plant

Contact: Bobby Irvine, Superintendent

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Phone: 540-863-2522
Address: P.O. Box 631
Clifton Forge, VA 24422

Clifton Forge Water Treatment Plant (WTP)

Construction of the Clifton Forge Water Treatment Plant (WTP) began in mid 1958. The plant went online in January 1960. Prior to 1960, WTP operations were handled at a small "shack" while disinfection, piping and storage were the only treatment provided.

All homes, business, industry and other public buildings within the town obtain potable water from this plant. Also many areas of Alleghany County receive water from our WTP. Alleghany County buys water from Clifton Forge, pipes it throughout their distribution system and resells it to their customers. Iron Gate (along with a small section of Botetourt County) along with Douthat State Park is served by Clifton Forge.

The Clifton Forge plant is a conventional, surface water plant with a design of 3 Million Gallons per Day (MGD), with a safe yield from its Smith Creak source of 2.2 MGD. In 2009, the plant treated 513.177 Million Gallons (MG) with a monthly average of 42.765 MG. During 2009, the low month was in September with 39.429 MG and a high flow of 50.137 MG was treated in January.

The WTP may obtain its raw water from three different intakes located on three different inline reservoirs. Each reservoir has its own dam along with own intake works. Our intakes include screens that prevent large objects/debris and fish from entering the WTP. Plant staff is in charge of initiating and reporting flood stages during times of rainfall and snow melt. Likewise, during dry seasons, our staff report conditions to community leaders to issue stricter water conservation measures. Both flood stages and drought conditions are measured using staff gauges trending water flowing over the spillway.

When water has traveled through a number of the processes, and has come into contact with the necessary chemicals the water enters the distribution system. The Town of Clifton Forge employs miles of piping with varying diameters along with two pumping stations and four ground storage water tanks and one elevated storage water tank for both water storage and pressure. This offsite storage equals 1,527,400 gallons when all are full.

Fire hydrants are placed throughout the town and parts of areas where the town sells water. Hydrants are used primarily for firefighting, but may be used to flush lines to establish better water quality in the distribution system.

There have been upgrades and additional treatment added to plant processes throughout the years. The plant staff is pleased to announce that with the years of service to the community, a large percent of its treatment plant and its components are original equipment.

If you have any questions or for comments for plant staff, please feel free to contact us at; 540-863-2522 or Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .