On Aug. 21, out of an abundance of caution and in coordination with the Virginia Department of Health, Rapidan Service Authority (RSA) issued a Do Not Use Water Advisory.
The advisory was issued because RSA, the owner of the Wilderness water treatment plant (WTP), received complaints of an unknown odor. The waterworks serves the Lake of the Woods subdivision, Wilderness Shores, Somerset, Edgewood, Germanna Heights, Twin Lakes, Germanna Community College Locust Grove campus, two shopping centers with several restaurants on State Route 3.
RSA, in conjunction with VDH, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) and the Virginia Department of General Services Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services (DCLS), is investigating the unknown odor.
Identification of these contaminants is not known at this time. RSA has collected these samples and sent them to Richmond for further analysis. Additional samples were collected on the evening of Aug. 21. Test results can take up to 48 hours for results. RSA will be conducting another round of samples Friday.
The Do Not Use Order will remain in effect until the water is safe to use/drink again.
Also on Thursday afternoon, Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania officials released a joint statement that the situation regarding potentially contaminated water in eastern Orange County stemming from the Rapidan River is not impacting drinking water for citizens in their jurisdictions.
“Spotsylvania County and the City of Fredericksburg are aware of the current situation in Orange County, Virginia regarding the Rapidan Service Authority in its response to water quality concerns from a water source, which is the Rapidan River that flows into the Rappahannock River,” the statement read.
“Currently, the Motts Run Water Treatment Plant, which provides drinking water to the City of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County, is utilizing the Motts Run Reservoir as its sole source of raw water while the Virginia Department of Health and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality complete their investigation along the Rapidan River.”
Residents in the affected area should avoid all contact with the tap water until further notice; toilets can be flushed. Only bottled water and bulk water should be used for all drinking, beverage and food preparation (including baby formula and juice), making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes or clothes, washing hands, and bathing. Those affected should not try to treat the water themselves. Boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine or other disinfectants, or letting the water stand will not make the water safe.
RSA is coordinating efforts to make bottled water available. An alert will be sent out and the RSA website updated to show when and where it will be available for pickup. Please register for alerts on RSA’s website (www.rapidan.org/subscribe).
For more information, please contact Rapidan Service Authority at (540) 972-2133. Updates will be posted on the RSA website
For additional questions, contact VDH’s Call Center at 877-829-4682 (Option 2), The VDH Call Center is available Monday–Friday (except holidays) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
