CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – The Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority is reporting a rubber bladder malfunctioned at the Sugar Hollow Reservoir around 7 this morning, sending a rush of water down the Moorman’s River. The rubber bladder sits on top of the concrete dam and controls the normal water level in the reservoir. The RWSA says failure of a pneumatic piping connector caused the bladder to deflate and about 5 feet of water to be released from the reservoir. RWSA and Albemarle County Fire Rescue staff responded immediately to the reservoir to investigate the problem, and the failed connector was located and repaired.

The bladder has inflated to maintain the normal pool level in the reservoir, and there was no damage to the concrete dam.