Beginning Saturday, May 31 through Friday, June 8, 2025 between the hours of 7 am - 2 pm and weather permitting, the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will be performing its annual floodwall testing. For the duration of the testing at the Mayo Bridge, the bridge will be closed to ALL forms of vehicular traffic to include motorists and bicyclists. Additionally, it will be closed to all foot traffic. Traffic impacts will be intermittent at all locations throughout the testing hours. During testing, only City of Richmond personnel and officials are permitted on site. Spectators are not allowed to be present as these areas will have restricted access due to public safety concerns. The following is a schedule of the dates and locations along the floodwall that testing will occur:

While floodwall testing is taking place, motorists will be detoured to adjoining streets. Barricades and signs will be posted to alert motorists. We strongly appeal to all travelers to obey signage to protect the safety of all, including the utility workers.

Richmond's floodwall gates are tested once a year in accordance with the Army Corps of Engineers standards to ensure operability when they are needed and were last tested in June 2024. The last activation of a floodwall occurred in February 2025 with the activation of the Dock Street floodwall, which closed Dock Street between 17th and 21st Streets. This activation was a cautionary measure in response to heavy rains in western parts of the James River Basin area.

May 30, 2025

Richmond, VA — Yesterday, the City of Richmond experienced a water main break at 7th and Canal Streets which led to a reduction in the amount of water flowing into the City's Church Hill Tank.

An overnight repair was scheduled during low-demand hours to minimize the impact to customers. During the repair work, Richmond's Department of Public Utilities (DPU) determined that a permanent repair could not take place without an impact to Richmonders and Henrico County residents. DPU quickly coordinated with Henrico County to develop a plan to ensure appropriate levels of water would be maintained in the City's storage tanks and that regional water service would continue uninterrupted.

Due to proactive efforts by DPU staff, this plan was effectively implemented, and safe water pressure was maintained throughout the entire distribution system during this short overnight timeframe. Today, water service to residents remains safe and stable.

The permanent repair of the broken main will likely take place early next week. DPU has coordinated the timing of that repair with Henrico County to ensure no impact to regional water service and to allow Henrico County time to plan appropriate water storage for their customers.

DPU will continue to coordinate with regional partners to ensure the safety of the region's water supply.

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond’s Water Treatment Plant experienced an issue on Wednesday, April 23 during installation of a new fluoride pump, which led to a temporary increase in the level of fluoride in the water system for a period of five hours. Prior to this event, the fluoride system was offline for repairs. During this period, drinking water produced by the Water Treatment Plant remained safe for consumption. 

Fluoride levels detected at the Water Treatment Plant and in the distribution network were reported for April 28. Current levels of fluoride range from 0.63 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L at the City of Richmond’s Water Treatment Plant. The City has proactively flushed where necessary and monitored the fluoride levels within the entire distribution system. Sample results for Tuesday, April 29, 2025 show that all areas of the distribution system are below 2.0 mg/L and ranged from 0.60 mg/L to 1.5 mg/L. The City has notified Virginia Department of Health that the fluoride levels within the distribution system have returned to below 2.0 mg/L.  

Fluoride is an element that may be found naturally in sources of drinking water, such as ground water. Fluoride has been added to drinking water by drinking water systems to improve dental health.  

For more information on fluoride and fluoridation levels, visit the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/office-of-drinking-water/fluoridation/.

For more information about fluoride and potential health effects, call the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).   

Posted on Monday, April 28, 2025

Richmond, VA — The City of Richmond's Water Treatment Plant experienced an issue on Wednesday, April 23 during installation of a new fluoride pump, which led to a temporary increase in the level of fluoride in the water system for a period of five hours. Prior to this event, the fluoride system was offline for repairs. During this period, drinking water produced by the Water Treatment Plant remained safe for consumption.

Fluoride levels detected at the Water Treatment Plant were 2.67 milligrams per liter (mg/L) which is below the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 4.0 mg/L, the highest level that is allowed in drinking water by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The optimal target level of fluoride is 0.7 mg/L.

The fluoride levels detected today at the Hanover point of entry was 1.6 mg/L; the level at Henrico was 1.19 mg/L; the highest level at Chesterfield was 1.21 mg/L. Current levels of fluoride range from 0.4 mg/L to 0.7 mg/L at the City of Richmond's Water Treatment Plant. At no point did samples collected in the distribution system indicate the fluoridation level exceeded the MCL of 4.0 mg/L within the region.

Although the Department of Public Utilities is currently in the process of creating new standard operating procedures for the Water Treatment Plant, plant staff did not notify the Virginia Department of Health within the required 24-hour period.

"I'm disappointed with our failure to communicate. This incident damages the work we're doing to rebuild trust — not only with the residents of Richmond, but our communities, and our regional partners, including Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover. We must do better," said Mayor Danny Avula.

While long-term exposure to elevated levels of fluoride can be unsafe, this incident is considered an acute exposure. See below for language from the EPA for chronic fluoride exposures. Drinking water provided by the Water Treatment Plant remains safe to drink.

Special Notice

When there is a secondary MCL greater than 2.0 mg/L, waterworks are required to provide a special notice to customers. This special notice about the City of Richmond's drinking water serves to address the potential related to cosmetic dental problems that might affect children under nine years of age. At low levels, fluoride can help prevent cavities, but children drinking water containing more than 2 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of fluoride may develop cosmetic discoloration of their permanent teeth (dental fluorosis). The City of Richmond has tested the fluoride levels within the distribution system and confirmed that the level in the nine pressure zones for the distribution system are between 1.00 mg/L and 2.94 mg/L. The City is actively flushing the pressure zones where the fluoride mg/L is above 2.0.

Dental fluorosis, in its moderate or severe forms, may result in a brown staining and/or pitting of the permanent teeth. This problem occurs only in developing teeth, before they erupt from the gums. Children under nine should be provided with alternative sources of drinking water or water that has been treated to remove the fluoride to avoid the possibility of staining and pitting of their permanent teeth. You may also want to contact your dentist about proper use by young children of fluoride-containing products. Older children and adults may safely drink the water.

Fluoride is an element that may be found naturally in sources of drinking water, such as ground water. Fluoride has been added to drinking water by drinking water systems to improve dental health.

For More Information

• For more information on fluoride and fluoridation levels, visit the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/office-of-drinking-water/fluoridation/.
• For more information about fluoride and potential health effects, call the EPA's Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791).

La instalación de una nueva bomba llevó a un nivel más alto de flúor en la planta de tratamiento de aguas; sin embargo, el agua sigue siendo segura para beber

Richmond, Virginia — La planta de tratamiento de aguas de la Ciudad de Richmond sufrió un problema el miércoles 23 de abril, durante la instalación de una nueva bomba de flúor, lo que condujo a que hubiera un aumento temporal en el nivel de flúor en el agua por un período de cinco horas. Antes de dicho evento, la planta estaba fuera de servicio por mantenimiento. Durante este intervalo, el agua potable producida por la planta de tratamiento siguió siendo segura para el consumo

El nivel detectado de flúor en la planta de tratamiento fue de 2.67 miligramos por litro (mg/L), lo cual es inferior al Nivel Máximo de Contaminantes (MCL, por sus iniciales en inglés) de 4.0 mg/L, que es nivel más alto en el agua potable que permite la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA, por sus iniciales en inglés) de los EE. UU. El nivel óptimo de flúor en el agua es de 0.7 mg/L.

El nivel detectado hoy en el punto de ingreso a Hanover fue de 1.6 mg/L; en Henrico fue de 1.19 mg/L y en Chesterfield el nivel más alto fue de 1.21 mg/L. Los niveles actuales de flúor van desde 0.4 mg/L hasta 0.7 mg/L en la planta de tratamiento de aguas de la Ciudad de Richmond. En ningún momento las muestras recolectadas en el sistema de distribución mostraron que se había sobrepasado el nivel de fluoración de 4.0 mg/L en esta región.

Aunque el Departamento de Servicios Públicos está creando en este momento nuevos procedimientos normalizados de operación para la planta de tratamiento de aguas, el personal de dicha planta no notificó al Departamento de Salud de Virginia del incidente dentro de las 24 horas siguientes, como es obligatorio.

Dijo el alcalde Danny Avula: "Estoy decepcionado por nuestra falla en comunicarnos. Este incidente daña el trabajo que hemos estado realizando para reconstruir la confianza, no sólo con los habitantes de Richmond, sino con nuestras comunidades y aliados regionales, que incluyen a Henrico, Chesterfield y Hanover. Debemos hacer las cosas mejor".

Aunque la exposición a niveles altos de flúor puede ser nociva a largo plazo, este incidente se considera como una exposición aguda; se puede ver a continuación el lenguaje que utiliza la EPA para la exposición crónica al flúor. Sigue siendo seguro beber agua provista por la planta de tratamiento de aguas.

Cuando hay una medición secundaria de MCL mayor a 2.0 mg/L, es obligatorio que las plantas de tratamiento de aguas den un aviso especial a sus usuarios; dicha notificación especial acerca del agua potable de la Ciudad de Richmond sirve para manejar las consecuencias potenciales relacionadas con los problemas cosméticos en los dientes que podrían afectar a los niños menores de 9 años. En bajas cantidades, el flúor sirve para ayudar a prevenir las caries, pero los niños que beben agua que contiene más de 2 miligramos por litro (mg/L) de flúor podrían sufrir de fluorosis dental, que es una decoloración de sus dientes permanentes. La Ciudad de Richmod ha hecho pruebas del nivel de flúor en el sistema de distribución y confirmó que el nivel; de las 9 zonas de presión del sistema ha estado entre 1.00 mg/L y 2.94 mg/L. Los funcionarios de la ciudad han estado purgando las zonas de presión en las cuales el nivel de flúor supera los 2.0 mg/L.

Las formas moderadas o severas de fluorosis dental pueden resultar en manchas de color marrón y/o en picaduras en los dientes permanentes; este problema solamente ocurre en los dientes en fase de crecimiento, antes de que salgan de las encías. Los niños menores de 9 años deberán utilizar otras fuentes de agua o recurrir a agua que ya haya sido tratada para remover el exceso de flúor, con el fin de remover la posibilidad de manchado y perforación de sus dientes permanentes. Usted debería comunicarse con su dentista para hablar del uso adecuado en niños pequeños de productos que contienen flúor. Los niños mayores y los adultos pueden beber el agua corriente sin problemas.

El flúor es un elemento que se puede encontrar de forma natural en las fuentes de agua potable, incluyendo el agua extraída de pozos; además este elemento se ha añadido al agua potable de los sistemas de acueducto para mejorar la salud dental.

Si desea más información sobre el flúor y los niveles de fluoración, puede visitar la página de Internet de la Oficina de Agua Potable del Departamento de Salud de Virginia: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/office-of-drinking-water/fluoridation/

Si desea más información sobre el flúor y sus posibles efectos en la salud, llame a la Línea de Atención sobre Agua Segura para Beber de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental (EPA) al 1-800-426-4791.

Notas/Temas de discusión

¿Por qué no se encontró este error de inmediato? ¿No debería haber un procedimiento normalizado de operación (SOP) en efecto para dirigir las acciones en caso de incidentes como éste?
El error fue hallado; sin embargo, no fue comunicado de manera adecuada usando los canales apropiados. Este es un SOP que está en progreso.

¿Por qué tomó tanto tiempo para que Richmond le informara al público de este evento?
El Departamento de Servicios Públicos (DPU) y la administración de la ciudad fueron informados de los niveles elevados de flúor después de que dichos niveles volvieron a la normalidad. La Ciudad se comunicó con el Departamento de Salud de Virginia (VDH) y coordinó una inspección del sistema directamente en el lugar y verificó que los niveles en el sistema de distribución coincidían con los niveles en la planta de tratamiento. El Aviso Especial al Público fue publicado tan pronto como esos niveles fueron confirmados en el sistema de distribución.

¿Richmond incumplió las reglas y/o recomendaciones del VDH?
La Ciudad no le notificó al VDH durante las 24 horas siguientes a la identificación del sobrepaso de la medición secundaria del MCL (cuando pasó de 2 mg/L).

¿Qué está haciendo la administración para garantizar que esto no vuelva a pasar?
Además de crear un procedimiento normalizado de operación (SOP), que dará instrucciones sobre cómo y cuándo realizar las notificaciones, se hará un aumento en la frecuencia de la toma de muestras para garantizar una pronta detección de cualquier problema.

¿Hubo algún efecto en la salud pública?
Puede consultar las recomendaciones del VDH y de la EPA.

¿Qué debo hacer si sospecho que mi familia o yo hemos sido afectados por los altos niveles de flúor?
Comuníquese con el laboratorio de toxicología del VDH o con la Línea de Atención sobre Agua Segura para Beber de la EPA.

Escuché que el sistema de fluoración de Richmond estaba fuera de servicio desde el incidente del 6 de enero. ¿Es cierto eso?
Eso es cierto.

Escuché que la EPA está considerando disminuir el valor del nivel máximo de contaminantes (MCL) en el caso del flúor. ¿Es cierto eso?
De acuerdo con la publicación del 7 de abril de 2025, la EPA está considerando la disminución del valor del nivel máximo de contaminantes (MCL) en el caso del flúor, basándose en el informe de agosto de 2024 del programa nacional de toxicología, que concluyó con un "nivel moderado de confianza" que la exposición a niveles de flúor por encima de 1.5 miligramos por litro (mg/L) se asocia con un coeficiente intelectual infantil más bajo. Este informe también concluyó que es necesario realizar más investigaciones para comprender si existen riesgos de salud asociados a la exposición a concentraciones más bajas de flúor: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-will-expeditiously-review-new-science-fluoride-drinking-water

Posted Feb. 17, 2025

Some City parks closed, and residents encouraged to sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts to stay informed.

The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities will activate the Dock Street floodwall as a cautionary measure due to the recent heavy rainfall. Dock Street will be closed between 17th and 21st Streets while the floodwall is activated, with detours in place. The floodwall and impacted streets will re-open once the water recedes.

The Department of Public Utilities has and will continue to perform other measures to help lessen the impact caused by heavy rainfalls. Bosher's Dam has been closed, as have several of the floodwall's interior gates, with no impacts to the public. DPU actively cleans storm drains in areas prone to flooding and are always prepared to respond to flooded inlets or drain. Residents and businesses are also encouraged to assist by keeping drains free of debris such as trash, sediment, cigarette butts, leaves, and lawn clippings. Inlets that are full of trash have reduced capacity to take the stormwater away and can cause flooding, driving hazards, and property damage even during small rain events.

DPU will continue to monitor the river levels and take appropriate action to mitigate flooding impacts. For more information on the City's floodplain management, visit: https://www.rva.gov/public-utilities/stormwater-management.

City Parks closures

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilites has also closed the parking areas at Pony Pasture and Huguenot Flatwater through Tuesday. The Belle Isle service access road next to Hollywood Rapids has also been closed for safety reasons.

Inclement & overflow shelters

The Inclement Weather Shelter (IWS) will operate continuously from 8 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 and close at noon on Saturday, Feb. 22 due to severe weather conditions. The IWS is located at 1900 Chamberlayne Parkway. The regular hours of operation are daily from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. The IWS is for single men and women and can accommodate service animals. All guests will be provided a cot, dinner, snack, and breakfast. Admission is first come, first served. Due to a limited number of spaces (66 men and 44 women) you may call the Salvation Army for availability at 804-653-5707.

The Overflow Weather Shelter will open and operate continuously from 10 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 19 and close at noon on Saturday Feb. 22. The Overflow Shelter is located at 900 E. Marshall Street. The Overflow Weather Shelter can accommodate 60 guests including families. Depending on weather conditions the days/hours of operation may be extended.

Richmond Ready Alerts

Richmond Ready Alerts Residents are encouraged to sign up for the new Richmond Ready Alerts system that can send information to users via text, e-mail, phone, or through an app about severe weather, fires, floods, missing persons, and other crucial public safety updates. Learn more: rva.gov/richmondreadyalerts.