Why was Petersburg under a conserve water alert?

PETERSBURG, Va. (WRIC) -- After Petersburg residents were under a conserve water alert, which was lifted, a city spokesperson said the power outage that caused the alert was due to a tree that fell on a power line leading to a pump station.

According to a spokesperson for the city of Petersburg, a tree fell on the power line leading to a pump station, resulting in a power outage that caused the conserve water alert from the evening of Friday, Sept. 5, through the morning of Saturday, Sept. 6.

The spokesperson said the power outage occurred at the Mount Vernon pump station in Petersburg. After power was lost, the spokesperson said the backup generator reportedly did not turn on, despite that new batteries were installed and tested less than two weeks prior.

The backup generator's batteries were reportedly replaced, and it is now working, according to the spokesperson.

City officials previously announced on Sept. 6 that water had returned to normal pressure and water tanks had refilled following the power outage. Water was safe to drink during the conserve water alert, and remains safe to drink, as of reporting.