DC and Arlington County issued a boil water advisory late Wednesday night that effectively applies to both jurisdictions.
DC and Arlington County issued a boil water advisory late Wednesday night that effectively applies to both jurisdictions.
Of all the customers living in DC and Arlington, only those in the Willston High Pressure Zone, a small section of Arlington that borders Fairfax County near the intersection of McKinley Road and Wilson Boulevard, are unaffected.
“This is a precautionary measure for all customers to boil water that may be ingested due to water of unknown quality. Customers should not drink the water without boiling it first. This advisory will remain in effect until further testing confirms the water is safe to drink,” DC Water said in its advisory, and the same message applies to people in Arlington.
Arlington issued its own advisory shortly after DC, stating, “Higher levels of turbidity have been observed in water held at the Aqueduct, which originates from the Potomac River and also serves the District of Columbia. Customers may notice that their water appears cloudy or hazy.”
The high level of turbidity — the amount of visible particles in tap water — can affect “the effectiveness of the water purification process,” the province wrote in the statement.
“The advisory was issued out of an abundance of caution as treatment processes at the Aqueduct, which is operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, are being expanded.”
DC Water said all customers should throw away any drinks and ice made after 9 p.m. Wednesday.
All customers are advised to run cold water, bring the water to a boil for at least one minute, and allow it to cool before drinking it, using it to brush their teeth, prepare food, wash food, prepare baby formula, make ice, wash dishes, or feed to their pets.
DC Water warns against using water filters in the home instead of boiling water.
This story is developing. Stay tuned to WTOP for the latest details.
Sign up here and receive the latest news and daily headlines in your email box.
© 2024 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.