Water Service Update for Virginia American Water's Hopewell District

HOPEWELL, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--As a result of a loss of water pressure due to an interruption in the operation of Virginia American Water’s Hopewell treatment facility, the company’s Hopewell district is experiencing an interruption of water service.

As water service is restored, Virginia American Water has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for all of its customers in the City of Hopewell as well as the subdivisions of New Birchett Estates, Cedar Creek, Cedar Creek West, Strattford Woods and Mullberry Woods in Prince George County.

Please note that a boil water advisory is a standard precaution that is taken whenever there is loss of pressure in water mains. Virginia American Water will provide information as to when the advisory is lifted.

Until further notice, impacted customers should bring tap water to a rolling boil for one minute and allow cooling before using for consumption, drinking, making baby formula, ice cubes, washing vegetables and fruit, and for brushing teeth.

Bottled water will be available beginning Friday, March 30 from 1:15 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hopewell High School, 400 S. Mesa Drive. Bottled water distribution will continue tomorrow until further notice at Hopewell High School from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Virginia American Water also recommends the following steps:

• Throw away uncooked food or beverages or ice cubes if made with tap water during the day of the advisory;
• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking;
• Rinse hand-washed dishes for a minute in diluted bleach (one tablespoon of household bleach per gallon of tap water) or clean your dishes in a dishwasher using the hot wash cycle and dry cycle;
• Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing;
• Provide pets with boiled water after cooling;
• Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms;
• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.

Virginia American Water is working to restore water service to the Hopewell system as quickly and safely as possible. The company is coordinating with local and state officials. Please be advised that Virginia American Water is doing all it can to make sure water is of the highest quality.

Updates will also be provided on the company’s Facebook and Twitter pages. If customers have any questions they may call 1-800-452-6863.

Additional information is available on Virginia American Water’s website at www.virginiaamwater.com, under the Alerts Notifications section.

Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 320,000 people.

With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,900 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in 46 states and Ontario, Canada. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing.