The City of Richmond, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Health, has issued an immediate boil water advisory for all city residents following a winter storm-related power outage that disrupted the city’s water reservoir system. The advisory will remain in effect until further notice. Officials are also urging residents to limit water usage to conserve supply.

The advisory does not affect Chesterfield, Henrico, or Hanover counties, as those localities have shifted to alternative water supplies.

City officials warn that some residents may experience complete water service interruptions, while others may encounter reduced water pressure.

"Our top priority is the health and safety of our residents and neighbors," Mayor Danny Avula said. "I am asking all Richmonders to limit their water usage as the team at the Department of Public Utilities works around the clock to restore our water system. Let’s consider our neighbors and only use what we truly need—we’re all in this together."

Efforts to restore capacity are underway, and Department of Public Utilities personnel will begin flushing the system to ensure water safety once operations are back online.

“We know the importance water plays in our everyday lives,” said April Bingham, senior director for the Department of Public Utilities. “My team is diligently working to restore the system with the support of our partners.”

The city will provide updates via its website, rva.gov, and social media channels.

Safe Water Usage Checklist

Until the advisory is lifted, residents are advised to:

• Boil tap water for at least three minutes before consuming.
• Discard ice made since the outage and sanitize ice machines or trays.
• Avoid using tap water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, or washing produce unless it has been boiled.
• Use paper plates to avoid washing dishes or boil water for cleaning.

Water Conservation Tips

To aid recovery efforts, residents are encouraged to:

• Shorten showers or delay them when possible.
• Limit toilet flushes.
• Postpone laundry and dishwashing.
• Check for leaks in faucets and pipes.

Residents are asked to share this advisory widely, including with individuals in apartments, schools, nursing homes, and businesses that might not have received the notification.