HENRICO COUNTY, Va. — All of Henrico County is now under a water boil advisory amid an ongoing water crisis in and around Richmond, Virginia.
"Under the guidance of the Virginia Department of Health, Henrico County today issued a boil water advisory for users countywide as it continues to work to restore water serviceto communities in the county’s central and eastern areas," a Henrico County spokesperson said. "Henrico residents, businesses and other users of the county’s water system are advised to not drink or cook with tap water without boiling it first."
The water crisis started Monday when the water treatment plant in Richmond lost power and flooded.
Initially, Henrico was not impacted, but that changed when a water pipe burst causing much of eastern Henrico lose water on Tuesday.
"Midday today, the Virginia Department of Health issued Henrico County a boil water advisory for eastern Henrico County. They issued that boil water advisory, because water in that portion of the county was not moving through the utility system. However, what the Virginia Department of Health didn't realize is that once water is in our system, there is no way to say water is in eastern Henrico, it can't end up in western Henrico, so ultimately, what that results in is that the county will issue a boil water advisory effective immediately to all of our residents. That boil water advisory is anticipated to be temporary as the city is going through the last phases of its boil water advisory with the Virginia Department of Health, and then we will follow protocol as necessary," Henrico County Manager John Vitoulkas said.
Public Utilities Director Bentley Chan emphasized that the boil water advisory is being issued as a precaution.
"The boil water notice is a precaution for anything that may come through this kind of 'first push' of water," Chan said, adding that residents should see more "normal use" of their facilities within the next 24-48 hours.
- Only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, ice and cooking and other food preparation.
- To properly boil water, tap water should be brought to a rolling boil for at least one minute and then allowed to cool.
Residents with questions related to water service and the boil water advisory may call (804) 501-4275, option #2.
Residents also can obtain water and access to showers at the Henrico Sports & Events Center, beginning at 6 p.m.
Water was being restored to parts of eastern Henrico on Wednesday morning, according to county officials.
"Overnight, Public Utilities crews were able to pull some water from south of the Richmond Raceway area and distribute throughout the system," a spokesperson said early Wednesday. "We have restored some service west of the Mechanicsville Turnpike. Crews are still working tirelessly to restore water service farther east."
Henrico declared a local state of emergency, calling on local and possible state partners, after a water main break rendered nearly half of the county without water or with low water pressure levels Tuesday morning.
"Water is still available for residents at the Eastern Government Center (3820 Nine Mile Road )and the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center (1440 N Laburnum Avenue). Both bottled water and tank trucks are available," a county official advised. "You will need to bring a container if you wish to fill from the tank truck."
According to county officials, the issue started when Monday's winter storm caused power outages and flooding at Richmond's water treatment facility.
County officials said then disconnected its feeds from the city's system and opted to serve all users from the Water Treatment Facility on Three Chopt Road.
Then Tuesday morning, a water main break was reported in Sandston, disrupting a line carrying water from the western part of the county to the eastern part of the county.
Impacted areas included communities east of Interstate 95, including Sandston, Fairfield, Highland Springs, Varina, and White Oak.
This is a developing story. Email the CBS 6 Newsroom if you have additional information to share.
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