Talking Points for Hopewell, VA Fuel Spill
March 5, 2015, 3 pm
Virginia American Water:
What happened?
Early Tuesday morning, Virginia American Water issued a mandatory
conservation notice for customers in the Hopewell area to reduce water
consumption due to a fuel spill in the Appomattox River, which resulted
in the shutdown of the company’s water treatment plant at approximately
12:30 a.m. This situation affects all of the approximately 9,400
customers who receive drinking water from the treatment plant.
How does this affect my tap water?
Virginia American Water issued a
precautionary
boil water advisory
Tuesday night due to a loss of water
pressure in the distribution system. The boil water advisory is required
by the Virginia Department of Health due to the loss of pressure
associated with the plant shut down, and it was issued as part of the
process of restarting the treatment plant.
Who is affected by the boil water advisory?
The notice applies to all Virginia American Water customers in the City
of Hopewell as well as the subdivisions of New Birchett Estates, Cedar
Creek, and Cedar Creek West, Strattford Woods, and Mulberry Woods in
Prince George County.
How long will the boil water advisory last?
The precautionary boil water advisory remains in effect for all of
Virginia American Water’s customers. Although initial water samples have
returned normal, the Virginia Department of Health requires a second set
of samples be taken, as part of their standard protocol. The second set
of samples was taken today, Thursday. They must also return normal after
24 hours, which will be Friday around mid-day.
We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water, using an
autodialer system and through the media, as well as our website.
However, until all of our water samples have been collected and tested,
we ask that all customers continue to boil their water before
consumption.
Was the boil water advisory issued because the fuel spill entered the
water system?
No. Virginia American Water operators shut down the treatment plant
before any fuel entered the treatment process. Sampling has confirmed
that fuel doesn’t exist near the river intake or within the treatment
plant. However, because the plant wasn’t able to produce water for most
of the day, customer demand depleted the company’s storage tanks, and we
experienced a loss of water pressure in the distribution (pipeline)
system. As a precaution, the Virginia Department of Health requires that
a boil water advisory is issued whenever there’s a loss of pressure.
Under the boil water advisory, what actions should customers take?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Boiled or bottled water
should be used for drinking, beverage and food preparation, and making
ice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Boiling is
the preferred method to assure that the tap water is safe to drink.
Bring all tap water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one (1) minute,
and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.
Customers who are unable to boil their water, as an alternative method
of purification may use liquid household bleach to disinfect water. The
bleach product should be recently purchased, free of additives and
scents, and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%.
Public health officials recommend adding 8 drops of bleach (about ¼
teaspoon) to each gallon of water. The water should be stirred and
allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use. Water purification
tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
For further safety measures, Virginia-American Water recommends the
following steps:
-
Throw away beverages and ice cubes if made with tap water,
-
Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking,
-
Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing,
-
Provide pets with boil water after cooling,
-
Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled
water; most of the home water filters will not provide adequate
protection from microorganisms,
-
Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.
Where can we get water for drinking, cooking, sanitation, etc. until
the problem is corrected?
The bottled water distribution site at the Hopewell High School at 400
South Mesa Drive closed at 3 pm today, Thursday, due to weather. It will
reopen at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, March 6. It will remain open on
Friday until the boil water advisory is lifted or until 9:00 p.m.,
whichever comes first.
The bulk water distribution at the Carter G Woodson Middle School has
been discontinued.
For more information, you can call the City Public Information Office at
804-446-0282. Please do not call 911
Language:
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March 5, 2015, 3 pm
Virginia American Water:
What happened?
Early Tuesday morning, Virginia American Water issued a mandatory conservation notice for customers in the Hopewell area to reduce water consumption due to a fuel spill in the Appomattox River, which resulted in the shutdown of the company’s water treatment plant at approximately 12:30 a.m. This situation affects all of the approximately 9,400 customers who receive drinking water from the treatment plant.
How does this affect my tap water?
Virginia American Water issued a precautionary boil water advisory Tuesday night due to a loss of water pressure in the distribution system. The boil water advisory is required by the Virginia Department of Health due to the loss of pressure associated with the plant shut down, and it was issued as part of the process of restarting the treatment plant.
Who is affected by the boil water advisory?
The notice applies to all Virginia American Water customers in the City of Hopewell as well as the subdivisions of New Birchett Estates, Cedar Creek, and Cedar Creek West, Strattford Woods, and Mulberry Woods in Prince George County.
How long will the boil water advisory last?
The precautionary boil water advisory remains in effect for all of Virginia American Water’s customers. Although initial water samples have returned normal, the Virginia Department of Health requires a second set of samples be taken, as part of their standard protocol. The second set of samples was taken today, Thursday. They must also return normal after 24 hours, which will be Friday around mid-day.
We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water, using an autodialer system and through the media, as well as our website. However, until all of our water samples have been collected and tested, we ask that all customers continue to boil their water before consumption.
Was the boil water advisory issued because the fuel spill entered the water system?
No. Virginia American Water operators shut down the treatment plant before any fuel entered the treatment process. Sampling has confirmed that fuel doesn’t exist near the river intake or within the treatment plant. However, because the plant wasn’t able to produce water for most of the day, customer demand depleted the company’s storage tanks, and we experienced a loss of water pressure in the distribution (pipeline) system. As a precaution, the Virginia Department of Health requires that a boil water advisory is issued whenever there’s a loss of pressure.
Under the boil water advisory, what actions should customers take?
DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, beverage and food preparation, and making ice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Boiling is the preferred method to assure that the tap water is safe to drink. Bring all tap water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one (1) minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.
Customers who are unable to boil their water, as an alternative method of purification may use liquid household bleach to disinfect water. The bleach product should be recently purchased, free of additives and scents, and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend adding 8 drops of bleach (about ¼ teaspoon) to each gallon of water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use. Water purification tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
For further safety measures, Virginia-American Water recommends the following steps:
- Throw away beverages and ice cubes if made with tap water,
- Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking,
- Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing,
- Provide pets with boil water after cooling,
- Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most of the home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms,
- Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.
Where can we get water for drinking, cooking, sanitation, etc. until the problem is corrected?
The bottled water distribution site at the Hopewell High School at 400 South Mesa Drive closed at 3 pm today, Thursday, due to weather. It will reopen at 9:00 a.m. Friday morning, March 6. It will remain open on Friday until the boil water advisory is lifted or until 9:00 p.m., whichever comes first.
The bulk water distribution at the Carter G Woodson Middle School has been discontinued.
For more information, you can call the City Public Information Office at 804-446-0282. Please do not call 911