Richmond Water Alert: Shocking New Contamination Report—Find Out If Your Tap Is Safe

Richmond, Va. — Thousands of residents from Carytown to Scott’s Addition woke up Tuesday to the words no tap-water user wants to hear: “Boil Water Advisory.” City officials say clogged filters at the Richmond Water Treatment Plant briefly knocked production offline around 3 a.m., causing low pressure in the Ginter Park Tank and forcing precautionary measures across 16 neighborhoods and parts of downtown. What the advisory means • Do NOT drink water straight from the tap. Bring it to a rolling boil for at least one minute, let it cool, then store in clean containers. • Skip ice made after 3 a.m.; empty and sanitize trays or machines. • Use boiled or bottled water to brush teeth, wash produce, mix infant formula, or prepare uncooked foods. • Restaurants must follow Richmond & Henrico Health District guidelines before reopening sinks, soda fountains, or dishwashers. Affected neighborhoods at a glance Byrd Park • Brookland Park • Carver • Carytown • Chamberlayne • The Fan • Ginter Park • Jackson Ward • Laburnum Park • Museum District • North Side • Oregon Hill • Randolph • Scott’s Addition • VCU Monroe Park campus • Windsor Farms plus portions of downtown. If you live or work in any orange-shaded zone on the city map, conserve water and follow boiling rules until further notice. Why low pressure triggers a boil order The Environmental Protection Agency warns that when pressure drops below 20 psi, contaminants can seep into cracked pipes. Although no bacteria have been detected, Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) must collect two consecutive days of clean samples before lifting the advisory. Crews are now flushing mains and slowly refilling the Ginter Park Tank to restore pressure. How to conserve while the tank refills • Take five-minute showers or sponge baths. • Postpone laundry and dishwasher cycles. • Check sinks, toilets and garden hoses for drips; even a slow leak wastes up to 200 gallons a month. • Hold off on car-washing and lawn watering. Timeline for a return to normal City engineers expect stable pressure within 24 hours, but microbiological testing takes 18–24 hours per round. If results are clean, officials could rescind the advisory as early as Thursday morning. Residents will receive a robocall, text alert, and social-media update once it’s safe to drink from the tap again. Recent water woes raise questions Tuesday’s disruption comes on the heels of January’s week-long Richmond regional water crisis and an April fluoride spike that briefly exceeded federal guidelines. Mayor Michelle Mosby ordered an independent audit of plant protocols last month; those findings are due in June. Early indications suggest today’s filter clog was caused by seasonal algae blooms on the James River intake screens—an issue the pending audit is expected to address. What to do after the advisory is lifted 1. Run cold taps for 3–5 minutes to clear lines. 2. Flush refrigerator filters or replace cartridges. 3. Purge ice makers and discard the first two batches of cubes. 4. Backwash water softeners and change whole-house filters if installed. Health and safety resources • Virginia Department of Health boil-water FAQ: steps for immune-compromised individuals and infant care. • Richmond & Henrico Health District food-facility checklist for restaurateurs. • DPU 24-hour hotline: 804-646-7000 for pressure updates or to report discolored water. Bottom line Until lab results confirm the system is bacteria-free, every drop from impacted taps must be boiled. Bookmark this page for real-time updates on the Richmond water situation, and sign up for city alerts so you’ll know the moment the boil water advisory is lifted.