WATCH: Richmond Mayor Danny Avula provides update on water service, preparation for winter storm

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Mayor Danny Avula held a press conference Friday morning in which he addressed updates on water service, the city water treatment plant, tests of the water and preparation ahead of the expected winter storm. The press conference was held at around 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10, by Avula and other city officials. Avula shared that the city's water plant had returned to full pressure, and most residents should see a return to water service, though the city remains under a boil water advisory. He explained that in order for the advisory to be lifted, two tests of the water must be taken 16 hours apart must be negative for bacteria. Avula said the results of the first test is expected at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 10. If testing of the water goes well, Avula said the boil water advisory should be lifted sometime in the morning on Saturday, Jan. 11. "We anticipate that if everything goes well, it will be negative, and we'll be able to lift that boil water advisory sometime Saturday morning," Avula said. In terms of preparation for the expected winter storm, Avula repeated measures mentioned during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 9, including increased staffing and surveillance at the city's water plant. "Here's steps that we have taken to bolster our staffing, to bolster our resources at the water plant in an effort to make sure we can provide operational continuity," Avula said. "We have brought in additional supports from our state and regional partners who will be on-site at the water treatment plant." Avula added that staff at the plant will include employees from multiple trades, including mechanics, electricians, plant operators and internal engineers. In addition, consult staff, including for the operator of the IT system, will be on-site during the winter storm. As for equipment, Avula said a new backup battery has been installed, and additional repair parts and filters will be on-site if those are needed. Avula further said that staff will inspect the plant and have additional processes throughout the storm. "We have instituted that supervisors do visual inspections of all of the components of the operation, and during each shift, we'll be doing a checklist roll call and reviewing processes across all of the essential areas of the plant operation," Avula said. "We have refreshed the plant emergency contact list and we've instituted a process for hourly status check-ins." As for next steps after the boil advisory is lifted and the winter storm passes, Avula explained that the city has been in contact with multiple vendors to begin a third-party investigation as for the exact events that lead to a malfunction of the city's water reservoir system. He said he expects to have an investigator on board early next week. City officials added that water will be distributed to the public at the following 11 sites beginning at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 10: Broad Rock Library, located at 4820 Old Warwick Road West End Library, located at 5420 Patterson Avenue Hickory Hill Community Center, located at 3000 Belt Boulevard Bellemeade Community Center, located at 1800 Lynhaven Avenue Midtown Green, located at 2401 West Leigh Street Pine Camp Community Center, located at 4901 Old Brook Road Randolph Community Center, located at 1415 Grayland Avenue Westover Hills CommunityCenter, located at 1301 Jahnke Road East End District Initiative (EDI), located at 701 North 25th Street Southside Plaza, located at 4100 Hull Street Road Annie Marie Giles Community Resource and Training Center, located at 1400 Oliver Hill Way