Contractors will be performing several controlled blasts on private property north of Reservoir Road in Albemarle County as work continues on the Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority replacement raw water line from the Ragged Mountain Reservoir to the Observatory Water Treatment Plant.
The blasting is scheduled to start on Wednesday, and may take two to three weeks to complete. The process involves drilling into rock and setting small charges. Heavy mats are laid across the surface to prevent loose debris from leaving the site when working close to homes, structures, and roadways.
Before each blast, a localized siren will go off to signal the impending detonation. Each blast may generate a sound level up to 120 decibels and cause minor localized ground vibrations…