Water main breaks skyrocket in Richmond during and after water crisis
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- There were dozens of water main breaks in Richmond during and in the weeks following the recent, widespread water crisis. While cold weather is certainly part of the problem, repair records obtained by 8News indicate that this January was worse on water mains than the past two Januarys combined. Richmond and multiple surrounding localities faced a water crisis between Jan. 6 and Jan. 11 following a malfunction at the city's water treatment plant. Affected residents had little to no water pouring from their taps for several days -- and, once water came back, many water mains broke under the stress of that returning pressure. 8News received a record of all water main repairs between Jan. 1, 2023 and Jan. 21 of this year from the Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU). According to those records, Richmond DPU repaired a total of 167 water mains in 2023 and 169 in 2024. PREVIOUS: No water again? Nearly 70 water mains break as water service tries to return to Richmond area Water production resumed in the city of Richmond at about noon on Jan. 7. The most recent water main break noted in these records was repaired on Jan. 21. Using those dates, 8News compared water main breaks year over year, to see if 2025 had experienced an increase in needed repairs in January or if it was on pace with 2023 and 2024. From Jan. 7 to Jan. 21, 2023, 9 water mains were repaired. During that same period in 2024, 18 water mains were repaired. Between Jan. 7 and Jan. 21 of this year, a total of 40 water mains were repaired -- more than both previous years combined. 8News previously reported that 22 of them broke between the time of water production restoration and Jan. 13. IN HENRICO: More than 100 water mains break in Henrico in just over 3 weeks While this is less than Henrico County saw -- with a total of 110 water mains breaking between Jan. 7 and Jan. 24, according to Henrico DPU -- it still represents a sharp spike on a local, city level. 8News previously learned that Hanover County saw only two water main breaks during that timeframe, while Goochland County had none. Both counties were also impacted by the water crisis.
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RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- There were dozens of water main breaks in Richmond during and in the weeks following the recent, widespread water crisis. While cold weather is certainly part of the problem, repair records obtained by 8News indicate that this January was worse on water mains than the past two Januarys combined.
Richmond and multiple surrounding localities faced a water crisis between Jan. 6 and Jan. 11 following a malfunction at the city's water treatment plant.
Affected residents had little to no water pouring from their taps for several days -- and, once water came back, many water mains broke under the stress of that returning pressure.
8News received a record of all water main repairs between Jan. 1, 2023 and Jan. 21 of this year from the Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU). According to those records, Richmond DPU repaired a total of 167 water mains in 2023 and 169 in 2024.
Water production resumed in the city of Richmond at about noon on Jan. 7. The most recent water main break noted in these records was repaired on Jan. 21.
Using those dates, 8News compared water main breaks year over year, to see if 2025 had experienced an increase in needed repairs in January or if it was on pace with 2023 and 2024.
From Jan. 7 to Jan. 21, 2023, 9 water mains were repaired. During that same period in 2024, 18 water mains were repaired.
Between Jan. 7 and Jan. 21 of this year, a total of 40 water mains were repaired -- more than both previous years combined. 8News previously reported that 22 of them broke between the time of water production restoration and Jan. 13.
IN HENRICO: More than 100 water mains break in Henrico in just over 3 weeks
While this is less than Henrico County saw -- with a total of 110 water mains breaking between Jan. 7 and Jan. 24, according to Henrico DPU -- it still represents a sharp spike on a local, city level.
8News previously learned that Hanover County saw only two water main breaks during that timeframe, while Goochland County had none. Both counties were also impacted by the water crisis.
