Residents and businesses in eastern Orange County have been told to cease water use immediately.
The Rapidan Service Authority says it is investigating possible contamination after customers reported a strange taste in the water and staff reported a petroleum scent at its water plant.
The authority issued the advisory around 3:05 p.m. Wednesday for all residents and businesses that pull water from the Wilderness Water Treatment Plant Waterworks. Those people and organizations are advised to not use water for any reason other than flushing toilets.
The Wilderness plant services the eastern end of Orange County, including Lake of the Woods, Wilderness Shores, Somerset Farms, Edgewood, Germanna Heights and Twin Lakes, as well as along the Virginia Route 3 corridor.
Rapidan Service Authority General Manager Tim Clemons told the Madison County Eagle that the advisory was issued after receiving three calls from customers.
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“We had several customers call about a strange taste in the water,” he said. “We then noticed an odd smell, possibly petroleum-based like diesel fuel in the water plan pre-sedimentation basin.”
Clemons said the authority is working with the Virginia Department of Health to determine the cause of the problem and any necessary remediation. He said the Virginia Department of Emergency Management was sending officials to collect samples from the plant to help determine what the issue may be.
In a notice sent to the Madison County Eagle just prior to 8 p.m., the Rapidan Service Authority again reiterated that water supplied by the Wilderness system is not to be used for anything and customers are advised to not try to treat the water themselves.
According to the notice, “boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine or other disinfectants or letting the water stand will not make the water safe.”
Clemons said the authority has purchased bottled water which can be picked up from the its maintenance shop at 3489 Germanna Highway in Locust Grove.
“Our thought is that we will need to flush and refill once the regulatory folks give us the go ahead,” Clemons said.
Due to the water advisory, the Wilderness Library is closed. Activities at Locust Grove Middle School have been cancelled. It remains to be seen if school on Thursday will be affected. Locust Grove elementary and primary schools are both served by a well system and aren’t included in the advisory.
More information will be made available online at rapidan.org.
Read More: Orange County told to cease water use due to ‘strange taste’