Before and after: State documents show progress in Richmond’s water crisis, physical changes in water treatment plant

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Months after Richmond's water crisis, state documents dated back to August 2025 show measures of progress, which include before-and-after photos showing physical changes inside the water treatment plant.

The first winter storm of 2025 hit Virginia on Jan. 5, 2025, and the wintry weather caused widespread power outages, resulting in a malfunction on Jan. 6.

That malfunction soon impacted residents throughout the city of Richmond and the counties of Henrico, Hanover and Goochland. They were left with little to no water as a result, and the immediate impact of the crisis lasted six days.

After questions were raised as to how this could have happened, and related agencies launched investigations and questions, the city had to improve the water treatment plant's infrastructure.

The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) posted several new documents about the Richmond water crisis in recent months, including quarterly progress reports from the water treatment plant in November 2025 and an inspection report from August 2025.

The quarterly report shows its progress in addressing the numerous deficiencies, areas of concern and recommendations required moving forward -- a major item which includes the installation of automatic transfer switches for backup generators.

On Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, a day before the first anniversary of the Richmond area water crisis, the department also shared updates regarding the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) leadership adjustments, new and repaired equipment, as well as operational changes and regional partnerships.

Infrastructure improvements have reportedly modernized various electrical and pumping systems to support the water treatment plant.

"RFO will schedule a sanitary survey in January 2026 to review new infrastructure, rehabilitated and repaired infrastructure, updated policies and procedures, and updated documentation and training provided since January 2025," the department states in the progress report.

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Other areas of significant infrastructure upgrades noted on Jan. 5 were upgrades to SCADA, a computer system and filter uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to increase runtime capacity, as well as replacement or repair of filter effluent valves, though the VDH noted some of that progress in the August 2025 inspection repair.

In the report, VDH noted the addition of a backwash waste pump, sanitary sewage tanks, Warwick Road support and new doors due to "significant improvement in communication, coordination, and transparency between the City and its partners," per VDH.

Keep scrolling to see photos taken of some of that progress.

Before: Visible leak through concrete / After: Leak no longer visible (Photo Courtesy of VDH)

Before: Active leak with possible biological growth on surfaces / After: Leak eliminated, surfaces clean (Photo Courtesy of VDH)

Before: Noticeable leak with water fiverted with a mat, pump removed from pedestal / After: Pump reinstalled, leak resolved (Photo Courtesy of VDH)

Before: Tanks lacking secondary containment / After: Concrete berm installed (Photo Courtesy of VDH)

Before: Scum visible, grating lets dirt fall into finished water / After: Solid base installed under walkway, no scum, walkway clean (Photo Courtesy of VDH)

Before: Deteriorated concrete and temporary wood brace / After: Permanent concrete, repaired (Photo Courtesy of VDH)

Before: Older doors / After: New doors installed that open fully (Photo Courtesy of VDH)