Water distribution begins across Richmond, more will arrive for 3 p.m. pickup window

Water distribution began at 10 sites around Richmond Tuesday as the city scrambled to get its drinking water system back up and running after an early morning power outage at the treatment plant Monday.

Roughly 20,000 gallons of bottled water were supplied by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, according to spokesman Jason Elmore. The agency also provided seven portable tankers, each containing 8,000 gallons of water, to area hospitals.

Extra assistance to distribute the water came from the American Red Cross, which deployed 24 volunteers to the distribution sites. Jonathan McNamara, a spokesperson for the organization, said the Red Cross could also tap into more volunteers if needed.

The first tranche of water was given out during a two-hour window Tuesday morning, with a second distribution period planned at all 10 sites between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.

While at least one site, at Hickory Hill Community Center off Belt Boulevard, ran short of water at the end of the first timeslot, city spokesman Ross Catrow said that water deliveries to the distribution locations were continuing throughout the afternoon and Hickory Hill was expected to get more water.

“We are making every effort to make sure that every site has water before the next window opens,” he said.

Update, 3:50 p.m.: Water supplies have run out at the Southside Community Center distribution site.