HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — Here is the latest information on the water situation in Henrico County.
Water quality testing has begun. The boil water advisory for the entire county will likely be in place until Saturday.
It comes after the county discontinued use from the regionally shared source in Richmond that failed Monday, and about a day later, experienced a water main break that limited or completely prevented water flow to the eastern portion of the county, including areas like Sandston, Varina, Fairfield and Highland Springs.
"We take this as a great learning experience, and like a strategic exercise on how to do things better. We’re always looking at the ability to do better, to be better," said Bentley Chan, Henrico's Director of Public Utilities.
Rob Rowley, Henrico's Chief of Emergency Management, said though the continued boil water notice may be frustrating for residents, it's a precaution county leaders agreed on.
“Our folks in public utilities understand that our underground water infrastructure is a very large very complicated system, and we just didn’t feel comfortable saying with 100% certainty that any contaminated water from one location wouldn’t make it to another location," Rowley said.
- Residents should begin to see their water flow return throughout the day as water pressure zones in central and eastern Henrico are now filling with water.
- For more on what tap water can and can't be used for during a boil water advisory, visit here.
- Henrico County is urging residents to limit their water use and remain patient as high demand is leading to temporary gaps in the county’s supplies of bottled water.
- Tanker trucks are stationed at the locations below 24 hours a day. Residents must bring their own containers to fill.
- Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road
- Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Avenue
- Henrico Sports & Events Center, 1 All Star Boulevard
- The county has limited supplies of bottled water at those locations, as well as the locations below. Due to strong demand, availability of bottled water may be intermittent while supplies are replenished.
- Brookland Middle School, 9200 Lydell Dr.
- J.R. Tucker High School, 2910 N. Parham Road
- Wilder Middle School, 6900 Wilkinson Road.
- Showers and bathroom facilities are available 24 hours a day at the Sports & Events Center and at the three schools from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily until further notice.
- Bring your own toiletries and towels.
- Despite rumors circulating social media, county officials have confirmed to CBS 6 that water service is not being shut off anywhere in the county.
- Residents with questions about water service may call (804) 501-4275, option 2.
Henrico opens three schools for free showers and water
Dozens of cars lined the bus loop at J.R. Tucker High School Thursday morning, waiting for a necessity so many in Henrico say they’ve taken for granted.
"Just having clean water and being able to brush our teeth and shower everything, it's made me very appreciative," said April Lyman who lives in the western part of the county. "We were really unprepared for this."
Lyman says she lost water around 3:30 Wednesday afternoon.
"We went out, and we looked for water, but there wasn't any to be found anywhere," she explained. "We're really thankful for this water here, though, because we're down to our last few bottles."
Henrico opened three schools for bottled water distribution and free showers at 8 a.m. Thursday: Brookland Middle School, L. Douglas Wilder Middle School and J.R. Tucker High School.
But the limited supply of bottled water wasn’t on site until after 8:30 a.m. at J.R. Tucker, and the first truck was almost empty by 9 a.m.
The entire county is under a boil water advisory with no timeline as to when that will be lifted, and schools remain closed.
“I'm more really interested in getting the kids back to school, because, you know, they've had a really long break, and I just feel like they really need to be back in school," said Lyman.
But in below freezing temperatures, volunteers and police are showing the importance of community, ensuring Lyman and others have at least one case to get by.
"I'm definitely appreciative," she noted.
Residents can with questions can call 804-501-4275 and choose option 2.
As for food and resources for Henrico County Public Schools families, a spokesperson for the district said the district is providing food in partnership with Feed More to students and families already identified in the district's database as being at high need.
HCPS has also directed folks to Feed More's Hunger Hotline at 804-521-2500, ext. 631.
Residents can with questions can call 804-501-4275 and choose option 2.
As for food and resources for Henrico County Public Schools families, a spokesperson for the district said the district is providing food in partnership with Feed More to students and families already identified in the district's database as being at high need.
HCPS has also directed folks to Feed More's Hunger Hotline at 804-521-2500, ext. 631.
CBS 6 is committed to sharing community voices on this important topic. Email your thoughts to the CBS 6 Newsroom.
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