Richmond water main break causes low water pressure for some in Henrico; county begins distributing bottled water

A water main break overnight on Canal Street in the City of Richmond is causing low water pressure for some Henrico County residents who receive their water from the city’s water system, but the water is safe to drink, county officials said Friday morning.

But "out of an abundance of caution," officials said they have opened a bottled water distribution site at the former Best Products headquarters, 1400 Best Plaza, just off Parham Road at I-95. Residents can receive one free case of bottled water through 8 p.m. Friday.

Officials are encouraging residents to conserve water to whatever extent possible until the water main break has been repaired.

The water main break also prompted Henrico Schools officials to close Glen Lea Elementary School on the last day of the school year.

The water main break is the latest issue in Richmond to affect Henrico’s water service and comes just a day after the county reconnected to the city’s system, following the latest issue with the city’s water treatment facility.

A problem earlier this week with the filters at the city’s plant prompted a disruption of service, which forced the city to issue a boil water advisory for many of its customers and caused Henrico to disconnect from the city’s system, which serves Eastern and Northern Henrico residents.

During that time, those county residents were served by water reserves stored in water tanks in Henrico, which the county was able to refill several times during the process. Henrico didn’t need to enact a boil water advisory for its residents as a result.

On Thursday, the county reconnected to the city’s water system, and the city lifted its boil water advisory after tests showed its water was clean and safe. Then overnight, the water main broke, causing low water pressure for many in the city and Henrico.

Henrico officials are planning a 10:30 a.m. press conference to provide an update on the situation.