PETERSBURG, Va. (WTVR) -- Petersburg officials told CBS 6 News that the boil advisory was lifted around 10 p.m. Thursday.
"The water is safe to drink," Petersburg spokeswoman Joanne Williams said."The Appomattox River Regional Water Authority tested numerous samples of water from throughout the city, collected over a 24-‐hour period as required by the Virginia Department of Health, and have reported that the water is safe, containing no coliform bacteria."
If you have questions, call 804‐733‐2349 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
Residents had been urged to boil all drinking water following a massive water main break Monday.
Water pressure is slowly returned to homes and businesses in Petersburg Tuesday after a massive water main break on South Crator Road.
A 16-inch main water line near the intersection of South Crater Road and Morton Avenue broke Monday afternoon. The problems was resolved Tuesday at 6 p.m., but city officials are still telling residents to boil water until 6 p.m. Wednesday.
The impacted area runs from South Sycamore Street and North Boulevard to the Prince George County border, including the 460/County Drive corridor area.
If water is dirty or discolored upon returning to your faucet, the city advises residetns to run cold water for several minutes.
Nearby schools, businesses -- even hospitals -- were impacted by the water warning on Tuesday. Water will be distributed to residents for free at the South Crater Food Lion until 7 p.m. Tuesday and beginning again at 9 a.m. Wednesday.
At Southside Medical Center, water had to be brought in to keep operations going.
Nurses had to flush toilets and even some surgeries were cancelled.
While residents were grateful for the free water, others were concerned about how they were notified by the city.
"I drank a quart of water last night - I didn't watch the news," Clarissa Reid said.
While the City of Petersburg alerted residents via the press and email lists, they did not utilize its emergency alert system. According to spokesman Joanne Williams it is because workers are currently being trained on the program.
It is expected to be operational by the end of the month.
CBS 6 reporter Melissa Hipolit was told that water rates will not go up for customers because of this. Instead, the Department of Public Works is expected to postpone buying some equipment.
