Danville water customers are under a boil-water advisory until further notice, according to a news release from the city. The advisory, which was issued late Monday night, also affects parts of Pittsylvania County that receive water from the city, including the Mount Cross, Mount Herman, Ringgold, Old Richmond Road and Highway 29 North communities.
“The notice is precautionary but it is necessary due to a loss of pressure in a large portion of the water distribution system,” the news release said.
The city advises customers to boil drinking water to kill bacteria and other organisms in the water. Customers can also use bottled water for drinking, beverage and food preparation and making ice.
“Boiling is the preferred method to ensure that the tap water is safe to drink. Bring all tap water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using, or use bottled water,” the release said.
The advisory is in effect until further notice.
Water treatment operators have been facing challenges due to Sunday’s rainfall, Jason Grey, director of utilities for Danville, said in a Facebook video with River City TV, Danville’s public access channel.
The rainfall caused salt, sand and chemicals to run into the Dan River, Grey said, which made the water turbid, or cloudy with sediment.
“We’ve had to flush our water treatment plant several times and start over because the water just hasn’t met water quality standards,” he said. “Our water treatment operators have been working around the clock to try to treat the water to get it to Virginia Department of Health standards.”
Danville Utilities has added powder-activated carbon to help with the settling of heavy sediment, Grey said.
“We’re looking to accelerate this process and get water back into the system and to our customers,” he said.
Grey said that customers can take showers and flush toilets, but water must be boiled or treated for drinking or cooking.
If customers are unable to boil water, the news release recommends alternate methods of purification, including:
- Using liquid household bleach to disinfect water. The bleach should be recently purchased and scent-free and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend adding about eight drops of bleach, or roughly ¼ of a teaspoon, to each gallon of water, and then stirring the water and letting it stand for about 30 minutes before use
- Using water purification tablets according to manufacturer’s instructions.
“Failure to follow this advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness,” the release said.
Customers may experience turbid water, lower pressure or no pressure until the situation is fixed, the news release said.
The city is repairing the water main, and a water sample will be tested once the main has been repaired and flushed, the release said. Testing can take up to 48 hours.
“We have to meet two good samples in all our pressure zones 24 hours apart, so the earliest it would be before it’s lifted would be Thursday sometime in the morning or early afternoon,” Grey said.
The state Health Department will make a final decision on lifting the boil water advisory, he said.
Customers can call 434-799-6473 on Friday for an update to this notice.
People or businesses who hold a Virginia Department of Health food permit should call 434-766-9816 for more specific information. Questions can also be addressed to the Division of Water and Wastewater Treatment at 434-799-6473 or the Division of Water and Gas Distribution at 434-799-5284.