Lake of the Woods residents are being asked to boil their water.
On Wednesday, a boil water notice was issued by the Rapidan Service Authority (RSA) for those residing on Birchside Circle, Pine Valley Road, Appleview Court, Happy Creek Road and Pleasant Grove Road in the residential neighborhood. The authority said a water main break occurred on Happy Creek Road during the morning hours, causing a localized water pressure loss. The main has since been repaired, but “out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with Virginia Department of Health guidelines, a boil water advisory was issued for the area described.”
Residents are being told to not drink or cook with tap water without boiling it first. This includes drinking, beverage and food preparation and making ice. To boil water, bring it to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using. If you cannot boil water, the notice advises that liquid household bleach can be used. Bleach should be recently purchased, free of additives and scents and contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Add eight drops of bleach, or ¼ teaspoon, per gallon of water, stir and allow to stand for 30 minutes before use.
The boil water advisory will remain in place until further notice. Samples will be collected near the repair site for analysis by a lab. Should test results come back clear, the advisory may be lifted as soon as Friday.
Those having lived in the area for several years may remember the water crisis of August 2024 in which customers of RSA’s Wilderness Water Treatment Plant were unable to use their water for three days, followed by a do not drink advisory for an additional three days. That issue was due to a catastrophic pump failure of the plant’s intake which leaked two to three gallons of mineral oil into the tank.
