Water returns, but Avula urges conservation to help lift boil advisory

Most Richmonders will wake up to water on Thursday morning, as emergency efforts at the city's water plant have restored some of the operations that were lost in Monday's winter storm.

Mayor Danny Avula thanked the crews responsible for that development, but also heavily emphasized a message of conservation.

While water has returned, only three of the plant's eight pumps were operational on Wednesday night, as well as two "bypass pumps" that were brought in to assist with relief efforts.

That's sufficient to produce 66.5 million gallons per day, above the target of 50 million gallons to supply the community's needs.

As demand dips overnight, the Byrd Park reservoir should begin to fill to levels that restore water pressure more broadly, though exact return times will be different by neighborhood.

However, testing to lift the boil water advisory can't begin until the city has sustained water pressure. If Richmonders run laundry machines and dishwashers en masse on Thursday morning, it could foil efforts to lift the advisory, which is keeping many local businesses and schools closed.

"Yes, get cleaned up, but don’t take excessively long showers," Avula said.

"Use (water) as sparingly as you can, because the faster that we get to full pressure throughout the system, the faster we can start that first test and get the clock running on achieving two negative tests over the next couple days to be able to lift the boil water advisory."

Officials also reminded residents that when they turn on their faucets for the first time, they may hear some sputtering, as well as see cloudy water. They emphasize that this is normal, and the water is safe for showering, though it must be boiled before drinking.

Avula offered a late-evening update released by email.

"Our reservoir level has climbed to nearly nine feet," he wrote. "We need to maintain a level of at least 10 feet to fully pressurize the system for flow and distribution.

"We are elated to hear that residents and businesses are seeing a return of water services. For now, the water boil advisory remains in place, and we continue to encourage water conservation as we work to build up the water level in the reservoir.”