August 22, 2024
Media Contact: Brookie Crawford, VDH, brookie.crawford@vdh.virginia.gov
or Tim Clemons, RSA, tclemons@rapidan.org
Rapidan Service Authority, Virginia Department of Health Issue Do Not Use Water Advisory
Residents in the affected area should avoid all contact with the tap water
CULPEPER, Va. – On August 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 Route 3.
RSA, in conjunction with VDH, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM), is investigating the unknown odor.
Identification of these contaminants is not known at this time. RSA has collected these samples and sent them to a VELAP-certified private lab in Richmond for further analysis. Additional samples were collected on the evening of August 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.
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 pick up. 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 to Friday (except holidays) from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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