Richmond residents, county leaders share thoughts after another boil water advisory
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Residents and officials are sharing their thoughts on the boil water advisory issued in Richmond after another challenging day at the city's water treatment plant.
In a press release shared at 11:27 a.m. on Tuesday, May 27, by the City of Richmond, a boil water advisory was issued for residents of many Richmond neighborhoods, including:
- 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
- Virginia Commonwealth University’s Monroe Park campus
- Windsor Farms
- Parts of the city center
Then, at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday, the advisory was expanded to include some Southside neighborhoods along the Commerce Road and Richmond Highway corridors. This includes areas such as:
- Ancarrow's Landing
- Bellemeade
- Blackwell
- The Commerce Road Industrial Area
- Hillside Court
- Davee Gardens
- Manchester
- Oak Grove
- Windsor
Shannon Heady, who lives in “The Fan,” said her family has been buying extra jugs of water since the last boil advisory on Jan. 6. While she still has faith in the new administration, she said she sympathizes with neighbors who may be struggling without water.
"I feel like people need to give each other grace and have a little bit of patience,” Heady said. “I know it's hard. My heart goes out, especially to people with young children. When you've got babies and little ones, that's when I think about it because my teenagers can survive."
MORE: Officials provide more details on why Richmonders are yet again under boil water advisory
The advisory is a reversal from Tuesday morning, when city officials initially said an overnight issue didn't necessitate one.
According to a press release, sediment from the James River clogged filters at Richmond’s water treatment plant Tuesday morning, temporarily causing a decrease in water production.
The release said city officials contacted the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) and regional partners shortly after midnight and throughout the morning.
Officials from Chesterfield and Henrico counties said Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) team contacted them about the impact on water production around 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
Both said they shut off water intake from Richmond at some point Tuesday morning.
Henrico DPU director Bentley Chan told 8News this latest incident at the plant does give him pause. But he added that regional leaders must be resilient to make Richmond’s plant one that everybody can count on.
Hanover County noted that Richmond has been providing hourly updates on the situation.
All three counties say their drinking water remains safe and does not require boiling.
Richmond City councilmember Ellen Robertson also confirmed the council's May 27 meeting was canceled because of the boil advisory. The meeting has been rescheduled for next Monday, June 2.
