Lynchburg lifted its boil water notice Thursday after passing two rounds of water quality tests.
Parts of the Rivermont and Boonsboro areas were on alert for two days after a string of water main breaks erupted in their neighborhoods.
The breaks — caused by a spike in the system’s internal pressure — were repaired Tuesday. But officials issued a boil water advisory as a precaution.
To ensure no contaminants entered the system, the city tested water quality at 10 to 12 different points in the affected area. Each had to pass two tests before the advisory could be lifted.
More than 200 homes were covered by the boil water advisory. Most were given the all clear by Thursday morning. By Thursday night, the entire advisory was lifted.
The city thanked residents for their patience, and apologized for the inconvenience.
Early estimates suggest the city’s response to the rash of breaks will cost around $20,000, according to Lynchburg’s Department of Water Resources.
Most of the expenses were overtime pay and fees for outside contractors hired to help speed up the repairs. Dozens of people were involved in fixing ruptured mains.
In all, nine water mains busted between Monday night and Tuesday afternoon. The culprit was a blocked pressure-reduction valve.
Officials suspect an isolated water line break Monday may have flushed sediment into the valve, clogging it.
Water Resources Director Tim Mitchell said valves are outfitted with strainers to protect them from debris. Sediment can still sometimes filter in, he said, but this week’s situation was extreme.
The city is discussing ways to guard against such mishaps in the future. No decisions have been made.
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