Urgent Boil Water Advisory for Richmond, VA—See Affected Neighborhoods, Safety Steps & Expected Duration

Richmond, Va. — A sudden operational failure at Richmond’s sole water-treatment plant early Tuesday, 27 May 2025, has triggered a localized boil water advisory that now spans much of the city’s urban core and several historic neighborhoods. What happened Shortly after midnight, excessive sediment and “high turbidity” in the James River overwhelmed multiple filtration units, choking output at the treatment facility on Riverside Drive. By 11:30 a.m. officials confirmed pressure in the Ginter Park Tank zone had dropped below optimal levels, prompting an immediate boil water notice for roughly 50,000 customers. Neighborhoods under the boil water advisory • Byrd Park • Brookland Park • Carver • Carytown • Chamberlayne & North Side corridors • The Fan & Museum District • Ginter Park, Laburnum Park • Jackson Ward, Oregon Hill, Randolph • Scott’s Addition, VCU Monroe Park Campus • Windsor Farms and parts of downtown Symptoms residents may notice • Complete loss of tap flow on upper floors • Cloudy or brownish water when service returns • Lower water pressure in showers and faucets Safety rules until further notice 1. Bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least 1 full minute (3 minutes above 6,500 ft elevation) before drinking, brushing teeth, washing produce, making infant formula, or preparing ice. 2. Use boiled or bottled water for pets. 3. Run dishwashers only on the “sanitize” setting or hand-wash with boiled water. 4. Take shorter showers; avoid lawn irrigation, car washing, and other non-essential uses to help system pressure rebound. Why boiling is required When pressure in a municipal line drops below 20 psi, contaminants such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites can seep through cracks and joints. Boiling kills these pathogens, eliminating the risk of gastrointestinal illness. Status in neighboring counties • Henrico and Hanover have severed interconnect valves with the city and report normal pressure; they are NOT under an advisory. • Chesterfield switched to alternate sources by 2 a.m. and remains unaffected, but officials encourage voluntary conservation. Next steps Crews from the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) are flushing mains once pressure stabilizes, then must collect and pass two consecutive rounds of bacteriological samples—typically a 24- to 48-hour process—before the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will lift the advisory. Mayor Danny Avula has scheduled live updates at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. via the city’s website and local TV outlets. How residents can stay updated • Sign up for RVA Alert texts at rva.gov/alert. • Follow @RVAgov and @RichmondDPU on X (Twitter) and Facebook. • Tune to WTVR-CBS 6, WRIC-8News, and WWBT-NBC12 for real-time briefings. Health tips if you drank unboiled water Most healthy adults will experience no effects, but monitor for diarrhea, nausea, cramps, or fever. Anyone with persistent symptoms, infants, seniors, or those with compromised immune systems should contact a healthcare provider. Frequently asked questions Can I shower? Yes. Adults should avoid swallowing water; give infants sponge baths with boiled or bottled water. Is laundry safe? Yes, though discolored water could stain whites. How long will the advisory last? Best estimate: 48 hours, subject to test results. Background Richmond’s water plant—serving more than 230,000 customers—has battled filter failures twice this year, most notably during January’s region-wide crisis that spurred leadership changes at DPU. City Council is currently fast-tracking $95 million in infrastructure upgrades, including automated sediment sensors and redundancy pumps slated for installation by 2026. Bottom line Until Richmond officials announce clear, laboratory-confirmed water quality, every drop from affected taps must be boiled. Check on elderly neighbors, conserve water, and follow city channels for the all-clear.