Urgent Richmond Boil Water Advisory: Affected Neighborhoods, Safety Tips & Expected Duration

Emergency boil water advisory in Richmond: what residents need to know right now Which neighborhoods are affected? The City of Richmond says every customer connected to the Ginter Park Tank must boil tap water before drinking or cooking. That includes Byrd Park, Brookland Park, Carver, Carytown, Chamberlayne, the Fan District, Ginter Park, Jackson Ward, Laburnum Park, the Museum District, North Side, Oregon Hill, Randolph, Scott’s Addition, VCU’s Monroe Park campus, Windsor Farms and parts of downtown. What happened at the water treatment plant? Overnight, high turbidity—cloudy water loaded with sediment—clogged several filters at the Douglasdale Road facility, cutting production and triggering a drop in pressure. To protect against possible contamination, the city and the Virginia Department of Health ordered today’s boil water advisory as a precaution while crews clear the filters and restore normal pressure. Boil-water safety checklist • Bring tap water to a rolling boil for at least three minutes; let it cool before use. • Use boiled or bottled water for drinking, ice, infant formula, brushing teeth and rinsing produce. • Run dishwashers only on the sanitize cycle or wash dishes with boiled water. • Discard ice made after 12 a.m. today and sanitize ice makers. • Pets should also drink boiled or bottled water. Water conservation tips during the advisory • Keep showers short; turn off water while soaping. • Postpone laundry loads and dishwashing when possible. • Check faucets, toilets and outdoor spigots for leaks. • Flush only when necessary. How long will the advisory last? Utility crews will monitor pressure, flush the distribution system and test for bacteria. The notice stays in place until two consecutive lab tests confirm the water is safe; the city has not provided an exact timeline but says updates will be released as soon as results are available. Stay informed • Sign up for RVA Alert texts or follow @CityRichmondVA on X for real-time advisories. • Listen to VPM News 88.9 FM and monitor local outlets for the “all clear.” • Visit rva.gov for interactive maps and FAQs. Bottom line Until officials lift the Richmond boil water advisory, residents in the listed neighborhoods should boil tap water or use bottled sources, conserve where possible and look for city updates daily.