BOIL WATER ALERT Q&A FOR RASPBERRY FALLS

Frequently Asked Questions:

Precautionary Boil Water Advisories

The following list of Frequently Asked Questions for Precautionary 

Boil Water Advisories is taken from the Virginia Department of Health – www.vdh.state.va.us/drinkingwater/documents/BoilWaterFAQs.pdf.

Why was I advised to boil my tap water? 

You may be asked to boil your tap water during an emergency 

• if tests show that harmful microorganisms could be present in the water, 
• if the water pressure drops due to equipment failure or power outages, 
• because of water main breaks or repairs, 
• if the water source has been flooded, or 
• during other situations that warrant special action to protect consumers’ health. 

How does boiling make my tap water safe? 

Boiling the water kills microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, or protozoans that can cause disease. Boiling makes the tap water microbiologically safe.

How long should I boil the water? 

Bring tap water to a full, rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using. 

IMPORTANT SAFETY TIPS:

• When boiling water on the stovetop, use manageable-sized containers and do not overfill them.
• Place the container on a rear burner if there are small children in the house. 
• Let the water cool before transferring to another container. 

Can I boil water in the microwave? 

Tap water can be boiled in the microwave in a microwave-safe container, provided that the water reaches a full rolling boil for one minute. Place a microwave-safe utensil in the container to keep the water from superheating (heating above the boiling point without forming steam or bubbles). 

Do I have to boil the tap water used to make beverages? 

Yes. Boil all of the tap water you use for making coffee, tea, mixed drinks, Kool-Aid or any beverage made with water. In addition, all tap water used for making ice for consumption must be boiled. 

Should I boil the tap water used to make baby formula? 

Yes. Only use boiled tap water or bottled water for mixing formula for your baby.

Do I need to boil water before using it to wash vegetables that will be eaten raw? 

Yes. Boil all of the tap water you use for washing raw vegetables. 

Should I boil the tap water used in cooking? 

All tap water used in cooking must first be boiled for one minute, unless the cooking process involves boiling for one minute or more. 

Do I have to boil my dishwashing water? 

No. Adding a tablespoon of household bleach such as Clorox to a sink full of tap water should be sufficient to treat the water used for washing dishes. Bleach should also be added to the water used for rinsing dishes. Allow dishes and utensils to air dry before reuse. 

You may wash dishes in an electric dishwasher, but be sure to use it with its heating elements turned on. After washing in an electric dishwasher, dishes should be rinsed in water with a tablespoon of bleach added, and allowed to air dry before reuse. 

Should I boil tap water for brushing my teeth? 

Yes. Any tap water that might be swallowed should be boiled before use. 

Is it necessary to boil water to be used for hand washing? Is any special soap necessary?

No. It is not necessary to boil the tap water used for washing hands, and no special soaps are necessary. 

What about my bath water? 

There is no need to boil water for bathing or showering. Adults, teens, and older children, can shower or bathe, though they should avoid getting water in the mouth or swallowing the water. Infants and toddlers should be sponge bathed. No special soaps are necessary. 

Care should be taken to prevent water from getting into deep open or post-surgical wounds. Consult your physician or health care provider for wound care instructions. 

Do I need to use boiled water for washing clothes or flushing the toilet? 

No. 

Do I still have to boil tap water if I have a water treatment device? 

Yes. Devices designed to improve the taste, odor, or chemical quality of the water, such as activated carbon filters, will not remove harmful microorganisms from the tap water. Boil the tap water to make sure it is safe. 

Can I use bottled water instead of boiling tap water? 

Yes. Bottled water can be used for all of the situations where boiled tap water is recommended above. Be sure that the bottled water is from a reliable source. 

Can I haul water from my neighbor’s well or spring for drinking purposes? 

No. You should only use water from an approved, tested source. Without routinely testing the water, there is no way to know if the water is safe to drink. 

Should I boil the tap water I give to my animals or pets? 

You can boil the tap water you give to the animals in your care. Your veterinarian can tell you if this precaution is necessary. 

What should I do if I become sick? 

See your family physician or healthcare provider. Your doctor may call the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water at (804) 864 7500 for information about the boil water notice. Your doctor should notify the local health department if he or she suspects your illness was caused by microorganisms in the water. 

Some people may be more vulnerable to contaminants. People with weakened immune systems, such as people with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be at greater risk from infections. These people should seek advice about drinking water from their health care providers. Guidelines on ways to reduce the risk of infection from microbiological contaminants are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791). 

How will I know when it is safe to drink my tap water? 

You will be notified when tests show that the tap water is safe to drink. You may be asked to run water to flush the pipes in your home before using your tap water or be given other special instructions. Until you are notified, continue to boil all tap water for one minute before use. 

What should I do if I’ve lost power and I cannot boil my tap water?

In an emergency, boiling is the preferred method for making sure tap water is safe to drink.  Using bottled water is the next preferable option. Water purification tablets may also be used to disinfect tap water by following the manufacturer’s instructions. 

BOIL WATER ALERT ADVISORY ISSUED FOR RASPBERRY FALLS

PRECAUTIONARY BOIL WATER ADVISORY ISSUED FOR RASPBERRY FALLS

Issued in response to discolored water experienced earlier today

Loudoun Water has issued, effective immediately, a precautionary boil water advisory for the Raspberry Falls community.  The precautionary boil water advisory will be in effect until acceptable water quality is confirmed by testing.  We expect this process to take 48-72 hours. 

On Monday, August 8^th, Well PW-2 was taken offline for scheduled maintenance.  On the morning of Tuesday, August 9^th, high turbidity was experienced in a portion of the system during routine monitoring.  Because Well F was the only well servicing the system at the time, it was taken offline to assess the situation and determine the source of the problem.  Because the situation may involve a break in one of the system’s raw water supply lines, Loudoun Water is issuing the Precautionary Boil Water Advisory.

To continue supplying the community with water with both wells out of service, the emergency interconnect with Selma Estates was opened.  Because the interconnect is for emergency use only and will not support widespread irrigation use, Loudoun Water is asking the Raspberry Falls community to stop irrigating their properties for at least the next 72 hours.  Well PW-2 is being brought back into service to remedy the situation, however, this process will take approximately 72 hours to complete. 

While the system did not lose pressure, the possibility of a break in one of the system’s raw water supply lines creates an increased risk of contamination.  Although we do NOT have an indication that the water system has been contaminated, as a precaution, Loudoun Water recommends that residents in Raspberry Falls should bring water to a rolling boil for one minute and cool before using.  If you cannot boil your water because of a power outage, then bottled water should be used. 

Only boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation. After the interconnect was opened, Loudoun Water flushed the system to eliminate the discoloration.  Therefore, if you experience discolored water today, let your taps run until the water runs clear.

We regret the inconvenience that this may cause.  Loudoun Water will provide regular updates and post information online at loudounwater.org.  A complete list of Frequently Asked Questions is attached and is also available online.  Customers can also contact Loudoun Water’s Customer Service at (571) 291-7880.  For emergency calls after hours, please contact (571) 291-7878.

New Well Operational in Raspberry Falls - Loudoun Times Mirror

By Crystal Owens - July 31, 2011

A new well constructed to serve residents of Raspberry Falls is now operational, Loudoun Water officials announced July 25.

The well, known as Well F, is a replacement for a well that was shut down last year.

Raspberry Falls, a community north of Leesburg, had been operating on one communal well since Nov. 16.

Normally served by two wells, one was shut down in anticipation of a Nov. 23 determination by the state’s Department of Health that the well was under the direct influence of surface water, rendering it unsafe as a drinking water source until an appropriate treatment level is determined.

That determination is known as Groundwater Under the Direct Influence of Surface Water or GUDI.

The community lies on a limestone overlay district, meaning surface water can easily drain down and mix with the groundwater. Soil normally serves as a natural filtration system for surface water before it travels underground.

In addition to the new well, Loudoun Water officials announced that construction work recently began on an expansion of the Raspberry Falls waste water treatment plan to serve nearby Selma Estates.

Selma Estates also operates on a communal well system.

An interconnection between the two communities’ systems was recently approved by the state Department of Health and is ready to be used in case of an emergency.
Loudoun Water officials are still studying options on how to improve the quality of water within the Raspberry Falls community, including whether a pipeline extension from Leesburg is viable.

Mike McGill, spokesman for Loudoun Water, said a report from that study is expected soon.

Leesburg Utilities Department Recognized for Operational Excellence

From the Town of Leesburg – The Town of Leesburg’s Utilities Department recently received a state award for operational excellence.  At the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project Conference in Roanoke, Aref Etemadi, Acting Director of the Leesburg Utilities Department, accepted the 2010 Silver Excellence in Waterworks Operation/Performance Award from the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water.  The Leesburg Water Treatment Plant has received this award every year since 2004.

“Every year, the Office of Drinking Water selects those waterworks that have met the state’s goals for filtration and clarification optimization,” explained Aref Etemadi. “It is really an honor to be recognized, year after year, by the state regulatory agency.”

State Department of Health to hold a fact finding hearing on Raspberry Falls

Published on Loudoun Times Mirror web-site

written by Crystal Owens

MAY 16, 2011

Virginia Department of Health officials will hold a fact-finding session with Raspberry Falls residents to determine if a formal hearing is warranted on whether the state is doing enough to ensure safe drinking water for the community.

The fact-finding hearing, set for May 26, will be conducted by state Department of Health District Director Dr. R. Dana Bradshaw.

Bradshaw will then make a recommendation to the state Health Commissioner based on his findings.

Residents of the community north of Leesburg requested the hearing after officials with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently said they would not continue to pursue access to parts of the property to conduct a dye trace study.

A dye trace study would conclude if there are sources of contamination to the ground water that serves several communal wells within the community that rests on karst geology.
In karst geology, surface water can easily drain downward through joints in the rock, making direct contact with the groundwater.

In October 2009, Loudoun County Supervisor Sally Kurtz (D-Catoctin) requested the dye trace study for Raspberry Falls after she was bombarded with concerns from residents who said they were worried about the quality of their drinking water.

The community is surrounded by dairy and bison farms as well as a golf course. Residents said they worried that fertilizers and bacteria from the properties were leaking into the community’s groundwater supply and complained of health problems and corroding copper pipes, among other issues.

The state Department of Health already has determined one well on the property to be groundwater under the direct influence of surface water – or GUDI.

Loudoun Water, the entity that operates the communal system, shut the GUDI well down in November.

In letters to Loudoun County government leaders, EPA officials said they’ve been denied access to parts of Raspberry Falls to conduct the dye trace study that are owned by Van Metre, the company that built many of the homes in the community.

Other parts of the property are controlled by Loudoun Water, who are cooperating with the EPA, spokesman Mike McGill said.

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA has the authority to conduct various types of investigations to protect human health and the environment.

Raspberry Falls Residents request State Department of Health hearing

Posted on the Loudoun Times Mirror web-site:

written by Crystal Owens

May 11, 2011

A group of residents from the Raspberry Falls community are requesting a hearing before the state Department of Health Commissioner to determine whether enough is being done to ensure the community has safe drinking water.

The request comes on the heels of several pleas by the group during the last two years for a dye trace study to be performed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

A dye trace study would conclude if there are sources of contamination to the ground water that serves several communal wells within the community which rests on karst geology.

In karst geology, surface water can easily drain downward through joints in the rock, making direct contact with the groundwater.

To determine if surface water is draining into the geology below Raspberry Falls, an EPA representative would perform the dye trace study by injecting dye into certain points of the area and then monitoring locations to see where the dye reappears.

In October 2009, Loudoun County Supervisor Sally Kurtz (D-Catoctin) requested a dye trace study for the community, which is just north of Leesburg off Route 15, after she was bombarded with concerns from residents who said they were worried about their health.

The community is surrounded by dairy and bison farms as well as a golf course. Residents said they worried that fertilizers and bacteria from the properties were leaking into the community’s groundwater supply and complained of health problems and corroding copper pipes, among other issues.

In November, one of two wells serving the community was determined by the state Department of Health to be under the direct influence of groundwater, or GUDI.

The well has since been permanently shut down and Loudoun Water’s Board of Directors agreed to study an option to extend central water service to the community from the Town of Leesburg.

Loudoun Water, which serves the community, also agreed to study options for enhanced treatment of the well water and connections with the wells in nearby Selma Estates. That study has not yet been completed.

Officials with Loudoun Water said they’re cooperating with the EPA in granting officials access to the Raspberry Falls property to conduct a dye trace study.

“We will continue to allow the EPA access to our facilities in the future,” said Mike McGill, spokesman for Loudoun Water.

However, other parts of the area are owned by Van Metre, the company that built many of the homes in the community.

According to a Feb. 24 letter obtained by the Times-Mirror addressed to Van Metre officials from EPA attorney Philip Yeany, Van Metre for at least a year has blocked EPA’s access to the property.

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the EPA has the authority to conduct various types of investigations to protect human health and the environment, Yeany said in the letter.

However, a month later, in a March 31 letter to Loudoun County officials, Dr. Malcolm Field with the EPA’s Office of Research and Development, said the EPA was backing away from pursuing access to the property.

“Future developments may allow the planned tracer tests to occur, but for the foreseeable future I can no longer devote my energies on Raspberry Falls,” Field wrote in the letter.

Raspberry Falls residents now are trying to determine why the EPA has stepped back from pursuing a dye trace study.

Should residents be granted a public hearing before the state Department of Health, some of those questions could be answered.

“Wouldn’t it be smart to find a way to allow a dye trace study to provide vital information needed to define the most optimal solution for treating this type of non-rural water before making a carte blanche decision without all the facts?” said Raspberry Falls resident Lisa Koste.

Video of Raspberry Falls - Limestone Branch by golf club house