Henrico County issued a boil water advisory Wednesday afternoon, on the third day of a regional water emergency triggered by a power outage at Richmond’s water treatment plant on Monday, Jan. 6 caused by a winter storm.
Richmond water boil advisory ‘unlikely’ to lift before Friday
As crews work to repressurize the city’s water system, Henrico residents must boil water before drinking or cooking with it, county leaders said in a news release, as Henrico’s water system interconnects with Richmond’s. The county declared a local state of emergency on Tuesday, after residents countywide experienced low or no water pressure in their homes.
The Virginia Department of Health issued a boil water advisory for the eastern part of the county earlier in the day Wednesday; the Sandston and White Oak areas have borne the brunt of the impact of the crisis. Utility teams had pushed water from the western part of the county to the east by closing two valves in the system Tuesday night, but it wasn’t enough to get water flowing for all residents. Valves feeding into Richmond’s water system were completely closed by Wednesday afternoon, and officials extended the boil water advisory to the entire county, which will stay in place “until further notice,” the release said.
“By boiling water before drinking or cooking with it, Henrico residents, businesses and other users will be protected during the period when the water system can be restored to normal operations, following flushing and bacteriological testing,” the release read.
Henrico County Public Schools will be closed Thursday.
Free water is available at several locations around the county:
- Eastern Government Center, 3820 Nine Mile Road, available until 9 p.m., one case of bottled water per household
- Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Ave., a tanker truck is available around the clock, residents should bring their own containers to fill
- Varina Area Library, 1875 New Market Road, available until 9 p.m., one case of bottled water per household
- Sandston Branch Library, 23 E. Williamsburg Road, available until 9 p.m., one case of bottled water per household
Several area YMCA facilities are open to residents who would like to take a shower. You must bring a photo I.D., towel and toiletries with you, and there may be a wait. The locations are:
- Manchester Family YMCA, 7540 Hull Street Road
- Tuckahoe Family YMCA, 9211 Patterson Ave
- Patrick Henry Family YMCA, 217 Ashcake Road
- Ashland John Rolfe Family YMCA, 2244 John Rolfe Parkway
- Shady Grove Family YMCA, 11255 Nuckols Road
- Glen Allen Chester Family YMCA, 3011 West Hundred Road
For questions about their water service, Henrico residents may call 804-501-4275 and select option 2.
