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Orange County water advisory lifted

A map of Orange County, Virginia, that highlights areas affected by a do not drink advisory.
Courtesy
/
Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water
Map outlining areas of Orange County affected by the "Do Not Drink" water advisory.

Updated Aug. 27: Some residents are still reporting odor at the tap.

The Virginia Department of Health lifted a Do Not Drink advisory for residents of Eastern Orange County Tuesday morning.

The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water and water utility Rapidan Service Authority issued a Do Not Use advisory last Wednesday after receiving at least three reports of a petroleum-like smell coming from taps, showers and spigots.

Water sampled from the Wilderness Water Treatment Plant and the Rapidan River has been subject to laboratory testing since then. The water has consistently met state and federal safety standards, and the smell has dissipated from the treatment plant.

RSA officials said in a statement that some customers are still reporting an odor at the tap. The utility recommends residents flush their systems — which customers can receive bill credits for — and continue reporting the odor as long as it persists.

A VDH official told VPM News the agency is continuing to work with subject matter experts to determine possible contamination sources. More information, including test results, is available on the department’s website. Residents can also subscribe to receive email and text updates from RSA.

In all, VDH says the treatment plant serves about 13,000 people.


Some residents in Eastern Orange County still should not drink the public water supply.

The Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water issued a Do Not Use advisory for residents in parts of the county last Wednesday after receiving at least three reports of a petroleum-like smell coming from taps, showers and spigots.

The Wilderness Water Treatment Plant — operated by Rapidan Service Authority — and water sampled from the Rapidan River have been subject to extensive contaminant testing since then – and as of Sunday, there have been no contaminants detected.

The warning has since been downgraded to a Do Not Drink advisory, meaning residents can use water to wash clothes, shower, flush toilets – anything that doesn’t involve consumption, like drinking or cooking.

The Rappahannock Rapidan Health District also lifted a swimming advisory on the Rapidan River, saying no public health threat or odors of concern have been detected. The advisory was put in place Thursday in response to the Do Not Use warning.

The stink, however, persists at the treatment plant — though VDH reports it has decreased.

RSA officials said in a press release that customers who continue to sense an odor from their tap should flush their pipes. (Click here for those instructions.) Residents that flush their plumbing can be credited for water usage by recording the length of time and number of fixtures used and reporting that to RSA.

The authority also requested that residents moderate their water usage, due to high system demand.

A VDH spokesperson told VPM News that there have been no confirmed illnesses connected to the odor event, but was investigating at least one hospitalization reported by CBS 19 to determine there is a connection.

Wilderness WTP serves the following areas in Orange County:

  • Lake of the Woods subdivision 
  • Wilderness Shores
  • Somerset 
  • Edgewood
  • Germanna Heights 
  • Twin Lakes
  • Germanna Community College's Locust Grove campus 
  • Two shopping centers with several restaurants on U.S. Route 3.

In all, VDH says the treatment plant serves about 13,000 people.
Locations and hours for water distribution sites are published on Orange County’s website.

On Monday, VDH said the Do Not Drink advisory will remain in place. Water evaluations will continue until the odor is further reduced or eliminated — up to this point, testing has shown the water complies with state and federal standards.

The health agency is continuing to meet daily with RSA and sharing regular updates on its website. Residents can also subscribe to receive email and text updates from RSA.

Updated: August 27, 2024 at 4:36 PM EDT
This story has been updated to reflect that the Do Not Drink order has been lifted.
Updated: August 26, 2024 at 6:27 PM EDT
6:20 p.m.: Added up-to-date health and safety advisory information
Patrick Larsen is the environment and energy reporter for VPM News.