Richmond Issues Boil Water Advisory After Treatment Plant Issues

RICHMOND, Va. — Residents in several neighborhoods are under a Boil Water Advisory following an operational issue at the city’s water treatment plant early Tuesday. City officials reported that the plant’s water production temporarily decreased due to high turbidity levels, which caused filters to clog.

The city initially communicated at 9 a.m. that the water was safe, stating that a boil water advisory was not necessary. However, by 11:30 a.m., officials updated the public, instructing residents in areas served by the Ginter Park Tank to boil water before consumption.

“Some customers may experience a total loss of water service, while others could face varying degrees of low water pressure,” noted a statement from the city. Residents were urged to conserve water during the advisory.

City officials are in close contact with the Virginia Health Department to assess the situation. Once normal water pressure is restored, Department of Public Utilities personnel will begin flushing the system to lift the advisory.

Some neighboring counties, including Chesterfield County, have reported no impact on their water supply from this incident.

Earlier on Tuesday, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula‘s office explained that the problem arose from clogged filters due to high turbidity levels, yet the plant managed to maintain safe system pressure. The office did consider a localized advisory but deemed it unnecessary in the morning’s initial assessment.

City officials have not clarified what led to the change in advisories between the morning and late morning updates. The situation is under scrutiny, and the Department of Public Utilities will investigate further.

In January 2025, a major power outage at the plant previously left Richmond and nearby counties without clean water for several days, resulting in operational changes within the city’s department.