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Here’s a recap of the top stories on the morning of Jan. 9, 2025:
Richmond boil advisory ‘unlikely’ to be lifted before Friday
Reported by VPM News’ Keyris Manzanares
Richmond’s water boil advisory most likely won’t be lifted before Friday, Mayor Danny Avula said in a Wednesday morning press conference — as most city residents were approaching 72 hours without water.
Avula said that even when pressure returns to the system, it may not be what Richmonders are used to seeing.
“When there hasn't been water in the system, you'll see sediment that's picked up by the water. That water will look rusty, it may look dirty, it will look turbid, it'll look cloudy. That's all just natural,” Avula said.
The mayor cautioned residents to boil their water before consuming it until the advisory is lifted. State health department requires two negative-result water tests before the advisory can be safely lifted.
“At this point, I think it is unlikely that we will lift the Boil Water Advisory before Friday,” he said.
Avula said the "next phase" for the city is a deeper assessment of the need for large-scale investment in aging infrastructure: "We've had a lot of those conversations over the last year, a couple of years at this point around stormwater overflow as an example. I think that's just one example of aging infrastructure. I think our water treatment plant is another one.”
Henrico County under boil water advisory
Reported by VPM News
Henrico County’s roughly 335,000 residents are under a boil water advisory as of Wednesday afternoon.
The Virginia Department of Health had previously issued a boil water advisory for the eastern portion of the county, because water was not moving through the utility system.
“However, what the Virginia Department of Health didn’t realize is that once water is in our system, there is no way to say that water [that] is in Eastern Henrico, can’t end up in Western Henrico,” County Administrator John Vithoulkas said.
The boil advisory, which county officials expect to be lifted within 24–48 hours, is intended as a precaution. Residents are asked to boil water before drinking or consuming it, but do not need to do so if using the water for cleaning or bathing purposes.
In other news:
In case you missed it:
- Democrats win special elections in Northern Virginia, maintain legislative control (The Associated Press)
- 'Secret police' case heard by Virginia appeals court (Richmond Times-Dispatch)*
- Virginia to receive $46 million in federal funds for Helene relief efforts (Virginia Mercury)
*This outlet utilizes a paywall.
