What does VDH want to learn from investigation into Richmond water crisis?

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) will have a third-party firm look into Richmond's water system after the recent, widespread water crisis. What specific concerns will it ask that firm to look into? Following a six-day water crisis that impacted many in and around Richmond, the VDH's Office of Drinking Water (ODW) began looking into how something like this could have happened. ALL COVERAGE: Richmond Area Water Crisis The ODW previously said that, as of Jan. 16, it did not believe that the City of Richmond was capable of ensuring residents have reliable access to clean water. This statement was presented in documents accusing Richmond of violating state Public Water Supplies Law and related Waterworks Regulations. As a direct result of those alleged violations -- in addition to other concerns regarding the city's ability to manage its water system -- the ODW announced that it will be hiring a third-party firm to investigate. That firm should be selected and ready to start no later than Feb. 5, according to the department. The investigation should be completed no later than April 7. In related firm procurement documents by 8News, the ODW further outlined the purpose and scope of this investigation. Bill that would hold Virginia waterworks accountable advances in Senate "To guarantee that the City of Richmond’s water crisis does not happen again and to ensure compliance with water quality requirements, the water treatment plant, the distribution system, water storage reservoirs and storage tanks, water production capabilities, processes, procedures, training and staffing level at the treatment plant and overall waterworks must be evaluated and improved," the ODW said. The firm will be asked to perform a "root-cause evaluation" breaking down "what happened, what did not happen (but should have), [the] effectiveness and timeliness of communication (or lack thereof) and other analysis" in relation to the water crisis, according to the ODW. The firm will be provided with a record of what VDH staffers witnessed during the water crisis between Jan. 6 and Jan. 11. It will be able to consider those details alongside whatever observations the firm makes over the course of its investigation. It will also be given a previous Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report, detailing the troubling findings noted during a 2022 inspection of the city's water system. RELATED: Five concerning truths about Richmond’s public water system: 2022 EPA report So what does the VDH expect from the chosen firm? Overall, the VDH wants it to be able to "completely understand and describe why the City of Richmond's water crisis happened," per the procurement documents. Here are a few of the major pieces investigators should be able to provide: A "comprehensive timeline" of the water crisis An overview of the staff involved in the water crisis, what their roles and responsibilities were and how effectively they were carried out A full staffing breakdown for the water treatment plant, including total staffing levels and how staff are trained An in-depth review of the backup power systems at the water treatment plant A complete inspection of the water treatment plant, with emphasis on its equipment and power supply The firm should also be able to assess various parts of the waterworks and provide the city with recommendations on how to improve them. MORE: Richmond opens application for funds after water crisis Some of those topics include: The city's current water demands and how they may change over time The overall resiliency of the city's water system The water treatment plant's design, what improvements could be made and how much it would cost to make those improvements Maintenance procedures at the waterworks and how they've been implemented The waterworks' emergency response plan The scope of employee training at the waterworks, especially relating to loss of power and what to do during an emergency shutdown The recommendations are to be broken down into what the City of Richmond must do within three months, 12 months, 24 months and beyond "to ensure that [the] water crisis does not happen again." The City of Richmond has hired a firm of its own to conduct an investigation into the water crisis. Said investigation should be complete no later than April 1.