Henrico officials still hopeful that boil water advisory will be lifted Saturday
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Henrico County officials are hopeful that the county’s boil water advisory will be lifted by Saturday afternoon, assuming that a series of water quality tests come back clean Friday and Saturday.
Henrico Public Utilities officials late Thursday learned that their first round of required tests, which examined chlorine levels at seven locations within the county’s water system (six in Eastern Henrico and one in the West End) came back clean.
At the same time, they also conducted bacteriological tests at those locations, but those test results take 24 hours to return. Those test results, and a second set of bacteriological tests conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, both must come back clear before the boil water advisory can be lifted.
“We’re going to make sure VDH is standing by to receive the results of the second test and give us the ‘all clear,’” said Henrico Public Utilities Director Bentley Chan
All of the 23,000 Eastern and Northern Henrico water customers who were without water Wednesday now should have it, county officials said Friday morning. Water pressure should be returning to normal for all customers Friday.
As a result, the county will close at 8 p.m. Friday the six sites that have been providing bottled and potable water and access to shower facilities (the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center, the Eastern Henrico Government Center, the Henrico Sports and Events Center, Brookland Middle School, Wilder Middle School and Tucker High School).
All residents of the county should continue to boil water before using it for drinking or food preparation purposes until the boil water advisory has been lifted. Tap water can be used for flushing toilets, washing hands, bathing and showering, though special care should be taken with open wounds.
Overnight, the county’s Public Utilities department filled its above-ground water tanks, which will provide a buffer against pressure losses amid surges of water use.
The county continues to operate a dedicated web page to provide information about the water situation and a hotline for residents to call with water-related questions (804-501-4275, Option 2). The call center will be available 24 hours a day until the boil water advisory is lifted.
