Supervisors request state and company review after Lakelandor residents report tea-colored tap water over Memorial Day weekend
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Summary
After residents in the Lakelandor area reported brown/tea-colored tap water and extended outages over Memorial Day weekend, supervisors voted to send a letter to Aqua Virginia, the State Corporation Commission and the Virginia Department of Health requesting explanation, documentation and copies of testing and communications.
Residents in the Lakelandor neighborhood reported discolored (tea-colored) water and multiple hours without potable water over Memorial Day weekend. Several supervisors said they received constituent photos showing brown water in faucets and laundry, and they pressed county staff to seek answers and stronger communications from the regulated water company that serves the subdivision.
Board response and next steps
The board directed county administration to draft a formal letter documenting the board’s concerns about the incident and Aqua Virginia’s communications, and to send the letter to Aqua Virginia leadership, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Drinking Water and the State Corporation Commission. Staff noted VDH will conduct sampling in Lakelandor later in the week; county supervisors requested copies of all company communications and test results and asked staff to include the photos provided by residents.
Supervisor comments
One supervisor said many households were without usable water for up to 36 hours and that company notification was delayed until the afternoon of Monday after the weekend incident; another said he had already contacted both the Office of Drinking Water and the State Corporation Commission. The board added the item as an amendment to the agenda and directed staff to prepare the letter and evidence package and circulate the draft to board leadership for signature.
VDH sampling and regulatory process
Staff confirmed the Virginia Department of Health’s Drinking Water Program will perform sampling and tests; the board asked staff to ensure that VDH test results, corrective actions and any planned company rate or service filings are copied to the county. Supervisors also asked staff to notify other nearby jurisdictions served by Aqua Virginia that the county is seeking documentation and requested coordinated follow-up if systemic problems are found.
The board will receive updates as VDH and Aqua Virginia provide results and responses.