Water customers of Danville Utilities are advised that the boil water notice issued on Monday has been lifted, effectively immediately, following clear rounds of testing and in consultation with the Virginia Department of Health.
Consumers can now resume normal use of the water supply for drinking and food preparation.
Barry T. Dunkley, director of water and wastewater treatment for Danville Utilities, said water faucets, water treatment units, water heaters and refrigerator water dispensers do not have to be flushed. Filters do not need to be discarded. Ice formed by refrigerator ice units also do not need to be discarded.
In addition, Dunkley said he does not expect water customers to encounter problems with cloudy or muddy water.
The boil water notice was issued Monday afternoon by the Virginia Department of Health, together with the Danville Health Department and Danville Utilities. The notice was precautionary, but necessary due to the treated water quality produced at the city’s water treatment plant.
Thirty-one water samples from the entire city’s distribution system were collected Tuesday and Wednesday, tested for the presence of bacteria, and found to be safe to drink. The test samples were evaluated by Danville Utilities in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Drinking Water and the Danville Health Department.
In addition to the testing, the water treatment plant has been in compliance with state and federal drinking water standards since about 1 a.m. Tuesday.
The boil water notice affected all of the Danville Utilities water customers. However, when the notice was issued Monday afternoon, no unsuitable water for drinking or cooking had yet reached homes and businesses.
Danville Utilities and the city of Danville acknowledge the patience, cooperation and assistance of the general public during the period of the boil water notice, and it greatly regrets the inconvenience caused to households and the business community.
Danville Utilities is providing the following information to answer questions that citizens may have following the lifting of the boil water notice:
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Is the water safe to drink now that the notice has been lifted?
Answer: Yes, all of the water produced since about 1 a.m. Tuesday has met drinking water limits.
Question: Can I use the ice formed by my refrigerator icemaker?
Answer: Yes.
Question: Do I need to flush my water at all before use?
Answer: No.
Question: Should my hot water heater be flushed now that the notice has been lifted?
Answer: No, this is not needed.
Question: Do I need to replace any of the filters on any of my appliances or point of use devices (tap filters)?
Answer: No, not unless it is the scheduled time to replace them.
Question: Will there be any other problems with the water, such as muddy/turbid water?
Answer: We don’t think there will be any other problems with the water, but if you do notice any turbid water please call the City’s Division of Water and Gas at 799-5284 or the water treatment plant at 799-6473.
Question: Why did it take so long to get the boil water notice rescinded?
Answer: Water samples had to be collected and tested with satisfactory results before the water could be declared safe to drink. These tests take at least 24 hours to complete, and a minimum of two sets of multiple samples had to be collected from the city’s distribution system as required by state regulations and the Office of Drinking Water.
Question: Could this event happen again?
Answer: Danville Utilities will evaluate actions taken and make adjustments as needed. Multiple assessments will be made to address those areas that need improving. Danville Utilities will work with state and local agencies to identify preventive measures in the future. Can it happen again? Yes it is possible, but the Utilities staff will work hard to make adjustments so that it never happens again.