Residents of Richmond, Virginia can once again drink their tap water safely after a boil water advisory was lifted late Thursday. This was the third major issue with the city’s water supply this year. Mayor Danny Avula announced that the Virginia Department of Health had treated the contaminated water, and follow-up tests showed it was safe to consume.
“I’m deeply grateful to the residents and businesses for enduring this unexpected boil water advisory,” Avula said. He acknowledged the community’s frustration and emphasized his commitment to addressing the city’s water problems.
The troubles began early Tuesday when a sudden drop in water pressure led to emergency measures. Samples from the Ginter Park Tank indicated high turbidity, or murky water, prompting officials to issue the boil advisory. Many neighborhoods, including the Fan, Jackson Ward, Carytown, Oregon Hill, and parts of Southside Richmond, were affected. Several businesses had to close as a result.
Initially, city officials believed they could manage the situation without further precautions. However, by Tuesday afternoon, they reversed course and advised residents to boil their water before using it. An operational failure in the water system was later identified as the cause. Maintenance records revealed that plate settlers, which filter out sludge, had not been cleaned in a timely manner, leading to sediment clogging the system.
Rhonda Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Department of Public Utilities, stated that recovery efforts were the immediate focus, with a full investigation to follow. Engineering expert Joel Paulsen noted that the failure was likely due to the neglected maintenance of the filtration system.
The water crisis has reignited criticism regarding federal funding for Richmond’s aging infrastructure. In April, the Trump administration canceled a $12 million FEMA grant that would have supported improvements to the city’s water systems. Senator Mark Warner expressed frustration over this decision, calling it “penny-wise pound-foolish.” He pointed out that without investment in infrastructure, similar problems could arise across Virginia.
However, city officials downplayed the significance of the canceled grant, arguing that it would not have addressed the immediate issues at hand. The Trump administration had labeled the grant program as wasteful and ineffective.
The ongoing water issues have raised questions about the performance of Mayor Avula and former mayor Levar Stoney, who is currently campaigning for lieutenant governor. Council member Reva Trammell suggested that Stoney should have done more to improve the water infrastructure with federal aid received during his tenure. Stoney defended his record, highlighting budget adjustments made to increase funding for maintenance and upgrades.
On Friday morning, Mayor Avula attributed the water treatment plant’s failure to “delayed maintenance” of the sedimentation basins. This incident follows a previous crisis in January when a blizzard left many residents without water for days, leading to criticism of government response times.
As the boil advisory was lifted, Richmond residents can now return to using their tap water, but the city’s ongoing struggles with its water supply continue to raise concerns about infrastructure and management.