Something (was) in the water in Keysville

Boil Water Notice lifted late Wednesday afternoon

Residents of Keysville woke up last Friday morning to find a notice on their door with “BOIL YOUR TAP WATER” in big bold letters across the top.

The notice advises town residents to boil their water before drinking it as a precaution because of discolored water in the Water Treatment Plant.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, last week’s rain caused the Town of Keysville’s reservoir to “turn over,” causing a sudden influx of iron and manganese in the water coming into the plant. The metals in the water partially oxidized while in the plant. When the water reached the clear well, it reacted with the high levels of chlorine and oxidized fully, coming out of suspension and turning the water in the clear well red. The town stopped processing water and began trucking in water to supplement their water system.

The “boil water notice” remained in effect until Wednesday afternoon. Multiple tests for bacterial contaminants came back negative. The clear well has been flushed and the water is back to normal.

VDH Engineer Bryce Simmons told us Tuesday, July 16, that the iron and manganese were not health risks, but an aesthetic issue with the water.

Food Lion in Keysville donated thousands of gallons of drinking water that were distributed at the Keysville Fire Department building by firefighters from Keysville and Drakes Branch. Another pallet of water was taken to Wayland Nursing Home in Keysville.

Wednesday afternoon, the Town received notification from the Department of Health that water tests for various bacteria had come back negative and that the water was safe to drink. There may be some residual discoloration in some lines, but it should flush out.