Boil Water Notice Issued in Petersburg

All residents and businesses in the City of Petersburg and those using Petersburg are under a BOIL WATER NOTICE (see below).

This follows a water line break at 800 Arlington Street in Petersburg on Sunday, July 7. Petersburg Public Works crews and contractors continue to work tonight to repair the break. Water to this line comes directly from the City’s main water supply line. 

Residents are also asked to conserve water until repairs are completed. The cause of the break is unknown at this time.

For updated information, please visit the city website (www.petersburg-va.org), follow Petersburg’s social media channels, or check Petersburg’s police app.

Notice to Customers of City of Petersburg Waterworks 


BOIL YOUR TAP WATER 

Failure to follow this advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness. 

The Virginia Department of Health, in conjunction with the Petersburg Health Department and Petersburg Utilities Division Water System are advising residents in the City of Petersburg who recently were without water or experienced very low water pressure due to a water leak to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. This precaution is necessary because there was a water main repair that resulted in loss of pressure. 
 

DO NOT DRINK TAP WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST 

Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, beverage and food preparation, and making ice until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Boiling is the preferred method to ensure 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. 

If you cannot boil your tap water. 

An alternative purification method for residents who do not have gas or electricity available is to 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 eight (8) drops of bleach (about a 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. 

The City of Petersburg will inform you when you no longer need to boil your water. To address this problem, we are flushing the system, sampling for chlorine, and completing the required bacteriological testing. We anticipate resolving the problem within 24 to 48 hours. 

For more information, contact: 

Jerry Byerly 1340 E. Washington Street, Petersburg VA 23803 
804-733-2320 

Please share this information with all people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.