BREAKING: Boil Water Advisory for Arlington and D.C.
Residents of Arlington and D.C. are advised to boil their water due to potential contamination from algae blooms in the Potomac River.
The advisory, issued around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, remains in effect until further notice. This affects all areas except a small part of western Arlington serviced by Fairfax County’s water system.
“Higher levels of turbidity have been observed in water held at the Washington Aqueduct, sourced from the Potomac River and also serving the District of Columbia,” stated Arlington County in a press release. “Customers may notice cloudy or hazy water. Elevated turbidity can hinder the water treatment process.”
Residents are urged to boil water for one minute before using it for drinking, brushing teeth, or serving pets.
Additionally, the county requests that residents conserve water by avoiding activities like watering lawns and washing cars over the July 4 holiday.
The full county press release is below.
Arlington Boil Water Advisory
As a precaution, Arlington has issued a Boil Water Advisory for customers across the county on July 3, 2024, due to water clarity issues at the Washington Aqueduct, the county’s drinking water source. This advisory is in effect until further notice.
Higher levels of turbidity have been noted at the Aqueduct, which also supplies the District of Columbia. Customers may notice cloudy or hazy water. Elevated turbidity can affect water treatment effectiveness. This advisory is issued out of caution as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues enhanced treatment processes at the Aqueduct.
Customers in the Willston Pressure Zone, near McKinley Rd. and Wilson Blvd., are not affected by this advisory.
Arlington customers should boil water for one minute and cool it before:
- Drinking
- Brushing teeth
- Washing fruits and vegetables
- Preparing baby food and formula
- Making ice
- Giving to pets
Updates will be shared when the advisory is lifted. Check the County website for information.
To ensure adequate water pressure for public safety during the hot weather and July Fourth holiday, residents are asked to minimize water usage, avoiding lawn watering and car washing.
DC Water Advisory
The Boil Water Advisory by DC Water affects the entire District, including the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and Reagan National Airport.
“Discard any beverages and ice made after 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 3, 2024,” the notice states.
The DC Water advisory explains that “current water treatment must be adjusted to meet demand” and to ensure sufficient water for firefighting activities.
On July 3, 2024, DC Water was notified by the Army Corps of Engineers that due to turbidity, the Dalecarlia Water Treatment Plant reduced production, shifting all operations to the McMillan Treatment Plant. Adjustments are necessary to meet water demand. To ensure firefighting water supply, the Aqueduct resumed pumping from Dalecarlia Wednesday evening. Increased turbidity prompted this cautionary advisory.
Turbidity, a measure of water clarity, indicates water quality and filtration effectiveness, potentially signaling the presence of disease-causing organisms like bacteria, viruses, and parasites, which can cause symptoms like nausea, cramps, diarrhea, and headaches. Infants, young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are at higher risk.
These symptoms can arise from other sources, so persistent symptoms should prompt medical consultation. People at increased risk should seek advice from healthcare providers regarding drinking water.
While there is no information confirming contamination, this advisory is issued as a precaution while water testing continues.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reports that increased water cloudiness results from “algae blooms in the Potomac River,” which occur during high temperatures and high nutrient levels.
Turbidity, a key indicator of water quality, can impede the water treatment process.