WARNING: Richmond VA Boil Advisory & Expansion

On May 27, Richmond, Virginia, expanded a city-wide boil water advisory after its primary water treatment plant suffered another in a series of disruptive failures. The incident, which began in the early hours, left swathes of the city with unsafe tap water, further straining residents and local businesses still reeling from a previous crisis in January.

From Operational Malfunction to Citywide Alert

The Richmond Department of Public Utilities traced the problem to a drop in water quality and an increase in turbidity—the cloudiness of water caused by particles. These conditions led to multiple filter clogs at the plant. Initially, officials believed the situation was manageable. However, after resuming full production, filters quickly clogged again, prompting a wider advisory.

Scott Morris, the department’s director, explained during a press briefing, “(The water) that was in the basin had a very poor water quality, and it impacted a majority of the filters simultaneously.”

By 7 p.m., the advisory stretched across more neighborhoods, spanning parts of Northside, downtown, and South Richmond. Residents in affected areas faced reduced water pressure or complete outages.

Boil Before You Drink: Safety Instructions Roll Out

As the city scrambled to contain the issue, Mayor Danny Avula emphasized boiling tap water as a necessary precaution. Officials urged conservation across households, recommending shorter showers, limiting laundry and dishwashing, and using bottled water for daily needs.

Residents were told to:

• Avoid water fountains.

• Discard ice made after May 27.

• Sanitize ice trays and machines.

• Use boiled or bottled water for cooking, brushing teeth, or washing produce.

• Rely on disposable plates or boiled water for cleaning dishes.

To lift the advisory, the city must fully restore pressure and pass two rounds of water testing conducted 16 hours apart. Officials have not set a timeline for when this might occur.

The advisory hit small businesses hard. Although state health department guidelines allow food service establishments to stay open, many chose to close or scale back operations. Reports from Axios and WWBT highlighted widespread disruption among restaurants, cafes, and bars.

Kayla Marbley, who works in the service industry, captured the frustration shared by many. “It’s just kind of the same thing over and over again,” she told WWBT. “If we’re closed for five days, I’m not making money either, so it’s frustrating, you know, it really is.”

January Crisis Resurfaces

The May 27 incident mirrored problems from earlier in the year. On January 6, the treatment plant failed during a winter storm, causing a power outage that crippled operations and left hundreds of thousands without water. Flooding in the filter gallery—home to key pumps and systems—further hampered recovery efforts.

That advisory lasted five days. An April report from the Virginia Department of Health concluded that “significant operational, procedural, and infrastructure failures” led to the avoidable crisis. Governor Glenn Youngkin underscored the gravity of the situation, saying, “The disruption of a safe and reliable water supply in Richmond this past January never should have happened.”

He also confirmed a second notice of violation against the city and demanded corrective action from local leadership.

Public faith in Richmond’s utilities remains fragile. Repeated boil water advisories, coupled with extended outages, have highlighted gaps in infrastructure maintenance and emergency planning.

Officials cited deteriorating raw water conditions and poor filter resilience as core issues. Still, residents voiced concern over the frequency and severity of these failures. The city’s need to implement lasting reforms remains urgent.

Keep Your Water at Home Safe

For households seeking dependable solutions, reverse osmosis (RO) systems and whole-home water conditioners offer critical protection. RO filtration removes contaminants like bacteria, lead, and turbidity particles—key concerns during water quality advisories. These systems deliver safe drinking water, regardless of municipal supply issues.

Whole-home water conditioners improve overall water quality by reducing hardness and chemical buildup. In cities like Richmond, where treatment failures can compromise supply integrity, these systems ensure cleaner water from every tap. For residents navigating recurring boil advisories, such tools represent a proactive safeguard for health and daily function.

While Richmond may be outside of the East Coast Water Quality service area, our partners at United Water Treatment in Richmond can help provide Protector series reverse osmosis and whole home water conditioners for your home.

Source: USA Today