Henrico and Hanover sent press releases on Monday expressing frustration that they were not properly informed by the city about an error at Richmond's water treatment plant last Wednesday.

The error resulted in an excess of fluoride being introduced into the water, though the level remained below the maximum allowable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

"We are disappointed by the lack of timely communication from the City of Richmond, especially in light of the challenges faced during January’s water crisis," Hanover's statement said.

Henrico's statement started: "Henrico County is discouraged by the repeated operational failures and communications breakdowns associated with Richmond’s water treatment plant."

EPA rules suggest the optimal level of fluoride is 0.7 milligrams per liter, with a maximum level of 4 mg/L.

During installation of a new fluoride pump, there was a temporary increase to 2.67 mg/L, according to the city.

The counties did not find out until notified by the state on Sunday.

In a statement, Richmond Mayor Danny Avula issued an apology.

“I’m disappointed with our failure to communicate," Avula wrote. "This incident damages the work we’re doing to rebuild trust — not only with the residents of Richmond, but our communities, and our regional partners, including Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover. We must do better.”

The press release said that while the Department of Public Utilities is in the process of creating new standard operating procedures, the plant staff did not notify state officials within the required 24-hour period.

In its press release, Henrico reiterated its call for a regional water authority.

"This episode, which comes on the heels of the city’s water service disruptions of January, shows once again that the region’s localities need to play a more prominent role in the delivery of drinking water to their customers," the release said. "Henrico stands ready to partner with the city as well as Chesterfield and Hanover counties to ensure that the entire community has access to drinking water that’s reliable, safe and of the highest quality."

Contact Michael Phillips at mphillips@richmonder.org.