Water treatment plant faced 36-hour outage due to power failure and flooding

In a recent meeting of the Richmond City Governmental Operations Standing Committee, significant discussions centered around the operational challenges faced by the city's water treatment plant following a power outage. The outage, which lasted approximately 36 hours, was attributed to a failure in the bus tie system that failed to transfer power, leading to flooding in the basement and damage to critical equipment.

The preliminary report highlighted the need for immediate changes in operational protocols. One of the key recommendations is to shift the plant's operation from a winter mode to a summer mode, which incorporates redundancies to prevent a single point of failure. This change aims to enhance the reliability of power supply to the facility, ensuring that similar outages do not occur in the future.

Additionally, the report emphasized the importance of developing a comprehensive bus tie failure plan and implementing severe storm event response protocols. The committee discussed the necessity of installing uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) with a minimum run time of one hour, as well as enhancing staffing levels from three to four operators per shift to improve operational resilience.

The meeting also addressed the need for updated standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the plant, with plans to revise approximately 53 SOPs over the coming months. Staff training on these procedures will be conducted regularly to ensure preparedness for emergencies.

Looking ahead, the committee is considering the relocation of electrical systems above potential flood levels and the installation of an automatic transfer switch for backup generators. These measures are part of a broader strategy to enhance the plant's infrastructure and operational capabilities.

As Richmond City continues to address these critical issues, the committee's discussions underscore the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding essential services for the community. The anticipated improvements are expected to be implemented in phases, with some projects projected for completion by November 2025. The committee remains committed to ensuring the water treatment plant operates efficiently and effectively, minimizing risks to public health and safety.