The residents who are currently living in Richmond, the capital of Virginia, are advised to boil water before consumption this Tuesday. According to what the reports suggest, the advisory is going to affect areas like Ginter Park and Cofer Road tanks. The advisory came after filters at the city’s Douglasdale Road water treatment plant reclogged overnight. The Mayor of Richmond, Danny Avula, stated that the advisory might stay in effect till Thursday. If you are someone who wants to know more about Richmond’s latest clean water crisis, the following article is for you.
What Exactly Happened To The Water Treatment Plant Of Richmond?
According to what the officials of Richmond stated, the residents of the city will have to face another water service disruption after the water treatment plant of the city had operational issues. As per the reports, the problem in the water treatment plant originated from high turbidity levels, which caused some of the plant’s filters to clog. The clogging ultimately diminishes the plant’s capacity to produce finished water. This leads to decreased water pressure in many areas. According to the officials, the plant managed to maintain system pressure levels above the threshold that would require a water advisory to be issued.
Precautionary Water Advisory Issued For Richmond Residents
The officials of the city have issued a boil water advisory for the residents of Richmond served by the Ginter Park Tank as a precautionary measure. The areas affected by the advisory are Byrd Park, Brookland Park, Carver, Carytown, Chamberlayne, the Fan, 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 the city center. The officials have advised the residents of these areas to boil water before consumption. Some residents may also experience a loss of water or decreased water pressure.
Richmond’s Latest Water Crisis Not The First
This is not the first time the residents of Richmond are going to faced water service disruptions. Earlier this year, in the month of January, the city had to go through another major water crisis, which was a result of the water treatment plant failure. The crisis resulted in significant outrage and also resulted in state-level investigations. Reports from that investigation revealed issues like deteriorating equipment, outdated emergency planning, and a lack of standard operating procedures that resulted in the crisis. In response, the city proposed $38 million in spending on the improvement of water infrastructure in the coming years. This proposal also included a $12 hike per month in water, wastewater, and gas rates.
What’s Going To Happen Amid Richmond’s Latest Water Crisis?
The Mayor of Richmond, Danny Avula, has promised a thorough investigation of the latest water crisis to identify the areas that need improvement. Till the water advisory in the city stays in effect, the Department of Neighborhood and Community Services is also planning to deliver bottled water through partner organizations and support agencies to several communities in need. These communities include healthcare facilities, senior living facilities, manufactured home communities, public housing neighborhoods, shelters, and Richmond public schools. The residents are urged to stay informed regarding the latest advisories being issued by the officials of their areas.
