Residents of Staunton are being advised to use boiled or bottled water as a safety precaution following a water main break, the city said on Aug. 15.
“The Virginia Department of Health in conjunction with the Lexington Office of Drinking Water, and City of Staunton are advising residents to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution,” according to a notice posted on the city’s website.
On the evening of Aug. 14, Public Works was notified of a water main break behind Stocker Street. Crews found a large, 16-inch water main that was severely damaged, causing water to be shut off for repairs.
“Initial attempts to limit the area of shut off to only a small area were unsuccessful. As a result, a larger area of shut off was required. This created low-pressure conditions across the city and resulted in the need to shut off the pressure zones in the higher elevations of the city. Crews have been working overnight to make the repair and restore water service as quickly as possible,” the city said.
E. coli, according to the city, is most likely in the water, meaning it could be contaminated with human or animal waste.
“Human pathogens in these wastes can cause short-term effects, such as diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms. They may pose a greater health risk for infants, young children, the elderly, and people with severely-compromised immune systems,” the city said.
Residents should boil water, the city said, for drinking, food preparation and making ice.
“Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Boiling is the preferred method to assure that the tap water is safe to drink. Bring all tap water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water,” the city said.
The boil advisory is expected to be in place for 48 hours. For those with no electricity or gas, alternative methods are available.
Schools were closed following the water main break.
“We anticipate restoring water service in the next 12 hours and lifting the Boil Water Advisory 48 hours from the time that service is fully restored,” the city said.
Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at bzinn@newsleader.com. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).