LCSA advises customers to boil water (Update)

This information is from a Loudoun County Press Release issued this morning, September 19th at 7:30am. The Broadlands is served by LCSA so this pertains to us.

Jan

Loudoun County Sanitation Authority Customers Urged to Conserve and Boil Drinking Water

Customers of the Loudoun County Sanitation Authority (LCSA) are being urged to conserve and boil drinking water because power has been lost to Fairfax County Water Authority water supply plants. LCSA, which serves residents of Eastern Loudoun County, receives some of its water from Fairfax County. The Route 50 corridor, including South Riding, is served exclusively from Fairfax County.

Due to the extreme power outages caused by Hurricane Isabel, power has been lost to the Fairfax County Water Authority water supply plants. Subsequently, water supply levels are critically low. Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott K. York is urging all Loudoun County residents on central or communal systems, including Lovettsville, to conserve personal use of water to preserve the supply for critical uses such as fire protection.

Boil Your Water Before Using

Due to the loss of power caused by Hurricane Isabel, and subsequent loss of pressure in the water system, the drinking water supply for Fairfax County Water Authority is severely restricted and may have been compromised. As a precautionary measure, you must boil water before using for drinking or cooking.

What should I do?

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST. Bring all water to a roiling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water.

Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, brushing teeth, washing dishes and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms that may have entered the water system.

What is being done to correct this problem?

Once power is restored to the system, the Water and Sanitation Authority personnel will clean the system by flushing water through fire hydrants and blow-offs. Certified Laboratory personnel will collect samples to test for potentially harmful bacteria. No potentially harmful bacteria have been found at this time. These procedures are being taken as precautionary measures for your health and safety.

We will inform you when you no longer need to boil water. We anticipate restoring the system to normal (no need to boil water) within 48 to 72 hours.

Can I disinfect water if my power is out?

Boiling is the safest method of purifying water. However, if you are unable to boil water for at least one minute, you can use purification tablets. These tablets are available at most drugstores or camping supply stores. Follow label directions.

Although boiling water is the best method of disinfection, unscented household liquid bleach containing at least 5 percent by weight available chlorine can also disinfect drinking water. To one gallon of clear water, mix 6 to 8 drops of bleach (1 teaspoon to 10 gallons); let the solution stand for 30 minutes before drinking.

The water should have a slight chlorine odor. If not, repeat the dosage and allow the water to stand for an additional 15 minutes. If, after the first chlorine treatment, the water is cloudy and contains particles, allow the particles to settle.

Pour off the clear water into a separate container and add to it double the amount of bleach mentioned above.

Swimming pool water may also be available. However, swimming pool water should only be used for bathing and flushing toilets, not drinking. In addition, a household water heater tank can supply 30-60 gallons for bathing or flushing toilets.

Whom do I contact for more information?

For more information, please contact the LCSA at 703-771-1092. For other emergency information, call the Loudoun County Government Emergency Information Line at 703-777-0637.

 

Boil Water Alert Lifted
The boil water alert for LCSA customers is lifted as of Sunday, September 21, 2003, at 7 p.m. Due to the loss of power caused by Tropical Storm Isabel, and subsequent loss of pressure in the Fairfax County Water Authority (FCWA) system, LCSA customers were advised to boil water since LCSA receives water from FCWA and there was a possibility that the water quality had been compromised. Water quality tests, completed Saturday and Sunday, confirmed that the water quality was not compromised, and that there was no need for customers to continue to boil their water. As a precautionary measure, the boil water notice was issued early Friday morning. Operations for the LCSA water system have now returned to normal.

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