On Monday, Jan. 6, a winter weather-related power outage impacted operations at the City of Richmond’s water plant along the James River. As a result, the City of Richmond, Henrico County, Goochland County, and parts of Hanover County were put under a Boil Water Advisory that has since been lifted.
This page provides information on the Virginia Department of Health's (VHD) response and health guidance. For the most up-to-date information on water restoration efforts, please visit Richmond's Department of Utilities (DPU).
Update:
As of approximately 11:30 a.m. January 11, the City of Richmond and the counties of Henrico, Goochland and Hanover have lifted their Boil Water Advisories. Please follow any guidance from your local public utility regarding flushing. Additional guidance on what to do once an advisory is lifted can be found here (en español).
The following has been added to the FAQs below:
I purchased a home test kit that shows Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) are present in my water, should I be concerned?
Total Dissolved Solids are present in all public water supplies in varying concentrations based on source water and from chemicals used in the water treatment process. Home test kits provide an estimate of Total Dissolved Solids in water based on the waters ability to conduct electricity and are intended to provide customers an understanding of the hardness of their water. Hard water is higher in dissolved mineral content and affects the cleaning ability of soap as hard water resists bringing soap to a lather. Home test kits measuring for TDS are not an indicator of water quality or bacterial contamination.
Total Dissolved Solids are considered a nuisance chemical by EPA Safe Drinking Water Act secondary standards with a Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level of 500 ppm. Nuisance chemicals are not considered health threatening and only effect waters aesthetic quality. EPA does not mandate water systems test for secondary contaminants. More information on secondary drinking water standards can be found on the EPA website.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the morning hours of Monday, Jan. 6, a winter weather-related power outage impacted operations at the City of Richmond’s water plant along the James River.
Under normal circumstances, the drinking water treatment process begins by withdrawing water from the James River. The water is then pumped into the water plant, where it goes through several stages of treatment to remove bacteria, viruses, parasites, and other contaminants of concern. After the final treatment, safe and clean water travels to homes and businesses from the water treatment plant through storage reservoirs, elevated storage tanks, and hundreds of miles of distribution piping.
Monday’s power disruption caused water to flood an area of the plant where pumps and electrical cabinets were located below sand filters. Water production stopped because the water treatment plant’s “Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition System” (SCADA system) went offline. The SCADA system consists of hardware and software to monitor and adjust plant processes. Best information suggests that the flooding – to a critical operational area of the water treatment plant – happened when the SCADA system went offline. Without the SCADA system working properly, pumps and valves had to be manually operated. Additionally, pumps at the plant stopped working and needed repairs from the flooding. Electricians, pump mechanics, and a contractor for the SCADA system worked to bring these critical needs back online. The City of Richmond has brought in many resources and experts to complete repairs as quickly as possible.
On Tuesday, January 7, the SCADA system glitched a second time causing additional delays in water production. The Richmond City Department of Utilities (DPU) had additional pumps delivered and installed to replace failed pumps that needed repair. Troubleshooting, repairs, and other work continue to bring the water treatment plant back to normal operation.
For the most up-to-date information on water restoration efforts, please visit: https://www.rva.gov/press-releases-and-announcements/news
Four Henrico DPU staff are onsite helping at the water treatment plant, including two electricians. An engineer from Whitman Requardt and Associates is onsite providing technical assistance. The Hanover utilities director and the Chesterfield DPU director have visited the water treatment plant and assessed operations. The VDH’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), and the Office of Drinking Water (ODW) have been assisting water distribution via water tanker trucks for rapid deployment to healthcare facilities as needed. VDH’s ODW has engineers and other staff monitoring 24/7 at the water treatment plant to help with regulatory questions, needs, and technical support.
ODW has engineers and other technical specialists at the water treatment plant 24 hours per day to ensure that the City of Richmond returns to compliance with applicable regulations that protect public health and drinking water as quickly as possible. ODW provides inspections, funding, compliance, and regulatory oversight of drinking water systems in Virginia. ODW is also providing advice and technical support to help resolve ongoing issues while evaluating the causes of the event and ensure regulatory compliance. VDH will ensure that an after-action review, timeline of events, learning lessons, compliance review, and other assessments are completed as soon as possible.
Another winter weather system is approaching, and backup systems need to be operational and tested. The ODW team is working to ensure Richmond DPU performs the needed work to test and ensure fail-safe and back-up systems are working.
Ongoing operations challenges have included damaged pumps from the flooding event and the SCADA system going offline, which helps the plant staff operate pumps, valves, and equipment.
Even though the water treatment plant is producing 50 MGD at this time, storage reservoirs, elevated storage tanks, and hundreds of miles of water distribution piping that must return to normal pressure and a steady flow of water that customers normally experience. VDH expects that water pressure will start and slowly improve through January 10.
Water fluctuations and changes in water pressure could happen for a variety of reasons, such as a new water main break from cold weather or other mishaps, high demand from a fire event, new and unexpected water treatment process downtime and delays, or perhaps other increased water demand as customers start noticing more water pressure.
VDH will work with the City of Richmond to ensure that an appropriate after-action review, timeline of events, learning lessons, compliance review, and other assessments occur. This event should not have happened and every effort will be made to prevent another similar crisis.
ODW’s engineering team completed an inspection of the water treatment plant on September 19, 2024. The report of this inspection is still pending because additional inspections were being scheduled when the water crisis started. Inspections occur over time because of the size and complexity of the water system. The last complete inspection of the facility happened in 2022 where the US EPA led an inspection of the facility with support from ODW.
Total Dissolved Solids are present in all public water supplies in varying concentrations based on source water and from chemicals used in the water treatment process. Home test kits provide an estimate of Total Dissolved Solids in water based on the waters ability to conduct electricity and are intended to provide customers an understanding of the hardness of their water. Hard water is higher in dissolved mineral content and affects the cleaning ability of soap as hard water resists bringing soap to a lather. Home test kits measuring for TDS are not an indicator of water quality or bacterial contamination.
Total Dissolved Solids are considered a nuisance chemical by EPA Safe Drinking Water Act secondary standards with a Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level of 500 ppm. Nuisance chemicals are not considered health threatening and only effect waters aesthetic quality. EPA does not mandate water systems test for secondary contaminants. More information on secondary drinking water standards can be found on the EPA website.
Boil Water Advisory
Boil Water Advisories are in effect for the City of Richmond, Henrico County, Goochland County, portions of Hanover County, and 27 connections in Chesterfield County who are served by the City of Richmond.
ODW anticipates it will be another 24 to 36 hours after water pressure is fully restored given current progress and expected return to normal operation and flow to meet full customer water demand. Customers should start experiencing a return of pressure slowly over time as the water treatment plant’s operation continues to improve and re-pressurizes the distribution system, storage reservoirs, and elevated storage tanks.
The Boil Water Advisory will remain in place until the distribution system is re-pressurized and appropriate sampling confirms no illness (bacteriological or viral) risk.
The public water system will ensure sampling happens from various locations throughout the distribution system for bacteriological analysis.
If under a boil water advisory, residents can safely use the water supply for bathing, toilet flushing, laundry, and other uses not associated with consumption or ingestion.
Do not use the water for activities associated with consumption, including drinking, beverage and food preparation (including baby formula and juice), dishwashing, cleaning food contact surfaces, making ice or coffee, and brushing teeth. Parents are encouraged to closely monitor children who take a bath to avoid ingestion at this time.
Drinking and cooking
Use commercially bottled water or boiled water for drinking and to prepare and cook food.
See the Infant feeding during a Boil Water Advisory tab below for more information on feeding an infant safely.
Handwashing
No. It is not necessary to boil the tap water used for washing hands, and no special soaps are necessary. Be sure to scrub your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and rinse them well under running water.
If soap and water are not available, you may use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Bathing and showering
There is no need to boil water for bathing or showering. Adults, teens, and older children, can shower or bathe, though they should avoid getting water in the mouth or swallowing the water. Use caution when bathing infants and young children. Consider giving them a sponge bath to reduce the chance of them swallowing water.
However, care should be taken to prevent water from getting into deep open or post-surgical wounds. Consult your physician or health care provider for wound care instructions.
Brushing teeth
Brush your teeth using boiled water or commercially bottled water. Do not use tap water that you have not boiled first.
Washing dishes
If possible, use disposable plates, cups, and utensils during a boil water advisory.
Sanitize all baby bottles.
Dishwashers are generally safe to use if they have a sanitizing cycle or reach a final rinse temperature of at least 150°F (66°C). Check the manual or contact the manufacturer to find out what temperature your dishwater reaches.
To wash dishes by hand:
- Wash and rinse the dishes as you normally would using hot water.
- In a separate basin, add 1 teaspoon of unscented household liquid bleach for each gallon of warm water.
- Soak the rinsed dishes in the water for at least one minute.
- Let the dishes air dry completely before using them again.
Laundry
It is safe to wash clothes as usual.
Cleaning
Clean washable toys and surfaces with:
- Commercially bottled water,
- Boiled water, or
- Water that has been disinfected with bleach
Caring for pets
Give pets commercially bottled water or boiled water that has cooled. Pets can get sick from some of the same germs as people or spread germs to people.
Caring for your garden and houseplants
You can use tap water for houseplants and gardens, including watering plants you eat.
After an emergency, your tap water may not be available or safe to use. Use bottled, boiled, or treated water to avoid getting sick. Boiling is the best way to kill germs in water.
If your residence is under a boil water advisory, do not use that water to drink, wash dishes, brush your teeth, wash or prepare food, make ice, or make baby formula.
Instead, use bottled, boiled, or treated water for drinking, cooking, and personal hygiene.
Steps for boiling water
If the water is cloudy, first filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or coffee filter. Another option is to let it settle. Then, draw off the clear water and follow the steps below.
- Bring clear water to a rolling boil for 1 minute (at elevations above 6,500 feet, boil for 3 minutes).
- Let the boiled water cool.
- Store the boiled water in clean, sanitized containers with tight covers.
Watch a video of these instructions here.
In an emergency situation where regular water service has been interrupted – like a hurricane, flood, or water pipe breakage – local authorities may recommend using only bottled water, boiled water, or disinfected water until regular water service is restored. These instructions show you how to boil and disinfect water to kill most disease-causing microorganisms that may be present in the water. However, boiling or disinfection will not destroy other contaminants, such as heavy metals, salts, and most other chemicals.
These tips provide information for feeding your young child during a boil water advisory.
Infant Feeding FAQs (en español)
Breastfeeding During Disasters
How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency (en español)
Fact Sheet: How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency (en español)
Use Safe Water During an Emergency (en español)
How to prepare and store powdered infant formula during and emergency (en español)
How to Clean Infant Feeding Items During Emergencies (en español)
For guidance on food operations during a boil water advisory, please visit the Richmond Henrico Health District’s emergency guidelines for food facilities.
Any restaurant or food service facility with specific questions about operating during or after a boil water advisory should contact the local health department.
Contacts
VDH Call Center
877-829-4682 (Option 2)
Monday–Friday (no holidays) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Richmond Service Requests
RVA311 (3-1-1 or 804-646-7000)
Hanover County Public Utilities
804-365-6024