Virginia American Water Issues Boil Water Advisory for Hopewell PWSID # 3670800

Virginia American Water has issued a precautionary boil water advisory for all of its customers in the City of Hopewell as well as the subdivisions of New Birchett Estates, Cedar Creek, and Cedar Creek West, Strattford Woods, and Mulberry Woods in Prince George County. Virginia American Water’s Hopewell Treatment Plant was shut down at approximately 12:30 a.m. this morning after a diesel spill of 600 gallons made its way into the water supply near the intake. The system serves approximately 9,400 customers, or a population of approximately 20,000 people, in the City of Hopewell.

The boil water advisory is required by Virginia Department of Health due to the loss of pressure associated with the shut down, and is being issued as part of the process of restarting the treatment plant, which we anticipate happening later tonight. Customers will receive automated calls notifying them of the boil water advisory, the full text of which is below and at our website:

This boil water advisory begins immediately.

As a safety precaution, boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, beverage and food preparation, and making ice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Boiling is the preferred method to assure that the tap water is safe to drink. Bring all tap water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one (1) minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.

Customers who are unable to boil their water, as an alternative method of purification may use liquid household bleach to disinfect water. The bleach product should be recently purchased, free of additives and scents, and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend adding 8 drops of bleach (about ¼ teaspoon) to each gallon of water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use. Water purification tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

For further safety measures, Virginia-American Water recommends the following steps:

• Throw away beverages and ice cubes if made with tap water,
• Keep boiled water in the refrigerator for drinking,
• Do not swallow water while you are showering or bathing,
• Provide pets with boil water after cooling,
• Do not use home filtering devices in place of boiling or using bottled water; most of the home water filters will not provide adequate protection from microorganisms,
• Use only boiled water to treat minor injuries.

We will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water. However, until all of our water samples have been collected and tested, we ask that all customers continue to boil their water before consumption.

In addition, bottled water and bulk water distribution sites have been established at Hopewell High School (bottled water) on Mesa Drive and Carter G Woodson (bulk water) Middle School on Winston Churchill Drive, for customers who are awaiting restoration of their water service. Customers will be able to obtain either one case of bottled water at the high school, or 10 gallons of bulk water, using their own containers, at the middle school. This distribution will be available until 10 pm tonight and resume at 9 am in the morning.

Customers will be notified when the boil water notice is lifted, which typically takes 48 hours, and updates will be provided through the Virginia American Water website at www.virginiaamwater.com, under the Alert Notifications section. In the meantime, all customers are asked to continue to conserve their water as much as possible, to make whatever supply they have last as long as possible.

For the most up-to-date information, customers are urged to contact Virginia American Water’s customer service center at 1-800-452-6863.

Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to more than 339,000 people. Founded in 1886, American Water is the largest publicly traded U.S. water and wastewater utility company. With headquarters in Voorhees, N.J., the company employs approximately 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide drinking water, wastewater and other related services to an estimated 15 million people in more than 45 states and parts of Canada. More information can be found by visiting www.amwater.com.