WATCH: Richmond Mayor Danny Avula says boil water advisory could be lifted as soon as Wednesday
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Mayor Danny Avula provided an update Tuesday morning on the city's effort to restore a city water treatment plant that experienced a malfunction after a power outage, causing a boil water advisory and water service disruptions. Avula held a press conference at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, addressing the current status of the facility and what residents can expect. As of about 15 to 20 minutes before the presser, Avula said two pumps were up and running, filling the water tanks. Avula explained that if this continues, water pressure should be restored to homes and businesses within four to six hours. Once water pressure is restored, though, Avula said it is still not safe to drink, as the city remains under a boil water advisory. City of Richmond continues to work to restore water Avula urged residents to conserve water during this time so that water pressure is able to build up and reach more buildings throughout the city. Sampling will be conducted once pressure is restored, and if the test is negative for bacteria, he said another test will be taken 16 hours later. Two negative samples would allow for the boil water advisory to be lifted. When Avula was asked about the gap of time between the pump failure and the boil water advisory being issued, he explained the process that occurred. "We were hopeful that we would have enough water in the reservoir to get us through later in the evening, and so we thought we had a longer window than ultimately we did, to be able to address that situation," Avula said. "Obviously, being able to maintain pressure and not issue the boil water advisory was what we were trying to do, we were trying to address the issue before it became a potential risk." Avula estimated that if tests go well, the boil water advisory could be lifted about 48 hours from when it was initially announced, meaning that it could be lifted as early as the afternoon on Wednesday, Jan. 8. "More like 48 hours from yesterday," Avula said, clarifying when the advisory could be lifted.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Mayor Danny Avula provided an update Tuesday morning on the city's effort to restore a city water treatment plant that experienced a malfunction after a power outage, causing a boil water advisory and water service disruptions.
Avula held a press conference at 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 7, addressing the current status of the facility and what residents can expect.
As of about 15 to 20 minutes before the presser, Avula said two pumps were up and running, filling the water tanks.
Avula explained that if this continues, water pressure should be restored to homes and businesses within four to six hours. Once water pressure is restored, though, Avula said it is still not safe to drink, as the city remains under a boil water advisory.
City of Richmond continues to work to restore water
Avula urged residents to conserve water during this time so that water pressure is able to build up and reach more buildings throughout the city.
Sampling will be conducted once pressure is restored, and if the test is negative for bacteria, he said another test will be taken 16 hours later. Two negative samples would allow for the boil water advisory to be lifted.
When Avula was asked about the gap of time between the pump failure and the boil water advisory being issued, he explained the process that occurred.
"We were hopeful that we would have enough water in the reservoir to get us through later in the evening, and so we thought we had a longer window than ultimately we did, to be able to address that situation," Avula said. "Obviously, being able to maintain pressure and not issue the boil water advisory was what we were trying to do, we were trying to address the issue before it became a potential risk."
Avula estimated that if tests go well, the boil water advisory could be lifted about 48 hours from when it was initially announced, meaning that it could be lifted as early as the afternoon on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
"More like 48 hours from yesterday," Avula said, clarifying when the advisory could be lifted.
