Richmond recovers from water crisis after storm wiped out power

5 hrs ago

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Lauren Taylor Anchor

By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Bast Bramhall (Video Editor)

A powerful winter storm struck the East Coast earlier this week which left residents in Richmond, Virginia, without power and caused a major water crisis, causing the city’s water treatment facility to go offline. The loss of power to the facility pushed the city into a state of emergency, with residents urged to boil water due to concerns over contamination.

Thursday, Jan. 9, marked the fourth day of the city’s water boil advisory. City officials said progress is being made in restoring normal water services.

“The system is now pressurized in all nine zones,” Richmond Mayor, Danny Avula said.

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The restoration follows a concerted effort to bring the city’s water supply back online after the storm caused significant damage to the facility’s electrical systems.

Avula also announced the reservoir, which had dropped to low levels, is now fully replenished.

“The reservoir is at 18 feet, we’re at a full reservoir,” he said during a press conference Thursday.

With water flowing again, the next step is testing.

The city has already begun taking samples from the filtered water in the system. Officials said they are hopeful the tests will show no contamination, allowing them to lift the boil water advisory.

Two rounds of tests will be needed before the advisory can be safely removed. Results are expected within 48 hours.

City engineers, working in the wake of the storm’s impact, rushed to repair the treatment facility’s power supply. Local officials acknowledged the storm exposed weaknesses in the city’s emergency preparedness. However, they noted steps have been taken to address the gaps.

“Making sure we have the right experts either onsite or a call away and increasing our surveillance and monitoring,” Avula said.

During the peak of the crisis, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin deployed water tankers to the city, providing emergency water supplies to hospitals and local distribution centers.

The governor also declared a statewide emergency, which allowed for a faster response and the delivery of essential water resources to affected communities.

Tags: Emergency, Glenn Youngkin, Virginia, Winter Storm

[Lauren Taylor]

PARTS OF THE EAST COAST ARE STILL RECOVERING FROM A WINTER STORM – AND IN VIRGINIA’S CAPITAL – THEY’RE NOT JUST DEALING WITH POWER ISSUES, BUT A GROWING WATER CRISIS.

PEOPLE LIVING IN RICHMOND HAVE BEEN TOLD TO BOIL THEIR WATER. THIS IN ADDITION TO A LACK OF WATER IN SOME HOMES AND WATER PRESSURE ISSUES IN OTHERS.

HOWEVER CITY OFFICIALS SAY RELIEF MAY BE IN SIGHT.

(“Our system is now pressurized in all nine zones,”)

COMMUNITIES ARE SEEING WATER FLOW THROUGH THEIR FAUCETS AGAIN THANKS TO RICHMOND’S SUPPLY BEING RESTORED.

(“The reservoir is at 18 feet, we’re at a full reservoir.”)

NOW THE MAYOR SAYS TESTING CAN BEGIN IN ORDER TO LIFT THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY.

THE FIRST ROUND OF SAMPLES HAVE BEEN TAKEN FROM THE FILTERED WATER PUMPING THROUGH THE SYSTEM.

CITY ENGINEERS RUSHED TO FIX MALFUNCTIONS IN THE TREATMENT FACILITY’S ELECTRICITY SOURCE THAT FAILED WHEN THE CITY LOST POWER.

OFFICIALS SAY THE STORM EXPOSED WEAKNESSES IN THE CITY’S PREPAREDNESS…BUT WITH A ANOTHER ROUND OF SEVERE WEATHER ON THE WAY THEY’VE FILLED THE GAPS.

(“Making sure we have the right experts either onsite or a call away and increasing our surveillance and monitoring.”)

VIRGINIA’S GOVERNOR BROUGHT IN WATER TANKERS AT THE PEAK OF THE CRISIS. SENDING GALLONS OF WATER TO RICHMOND’S HOSPITALS AND LOCAL DISTRIBUTION CENTERS.

HE SAYS A STATEWIDE EMERGENCY DECLARATION HELPED PUMP WATER INTO THE CITY TO GET RESOURCES INTO COMMUNITIES.

IT COULD TAKE UP TO 48 HOURS FOR THE BOIL WATER ADVISORY TO BE LIFTED.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M LAUREN TAYLOR