Update: Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania authorities released a joint statement Thursday afternoon saying that the situation regarding potentially contaminated water from the Rapidan River in eastern Orange County has no impact on the drinking water of citizens in their jurisdictions.

“Spotsylvania County and the City of Fredericksburg are aware of the current situation in Orange County, Virginia, regarding the Rapidan Service Authority and its response to water quality concerns about a water source, namely the Rapidan River, which flows into the Rappahannock River,” the statement said. “Currently, the Motts Run Water Treatment Plant, which supplies drinking water to the City of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County, is using the Motts Run Reservoir as its sole raw water source while the Virginia Department of Health and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality complete their investigations along the Rapidan River.”

According to an emergency alert issued Wednesday evening by the Rapidan Service Authority, water supplied by the Wilderness WTP Water System may be contaminated by an unknown substance. The investigation into the source of this possible contamination is ongoing.

The area served by this plant includes Lake of the Woods, Wilderness Shores, Somerset, Edgewood, Germanna Heights, Twin Lakes, State Route 3, etc. Out of an abundance of caution, the Rapidan Service Authority (RSA), in conjunction with the Virginia Department of Health, is advising residents not to use tap water until further notice. The RSA will conduct testing to ensure that levels of all contaminants are at safe levels before the Do Not Use Order is lifted.

Do not use tap water – only bottled water

Avoid all contact with tap water. Only bottled water should be used for all drinks, drink preparation and food preparation (including baby food and juice), ice making, brushing teeth and washing dishes.
or clothing, hand washing and bathing until further notice. Flushing toilets is permitted.

Do not attempt to treat the water yourself

Boiling, freezing, filtering, adding chlorine or other disinfectants or leaving the water standing will not
Make the water safe.

Drinking water is available at the following locations:

RSA will provide bottled water as soon as possible. An alert will be sent out and the RSA website will be updated to show where it can be picked up. In addition, water may also be available at nearby grocery or convenience stores. Please sign up for alerts on the RSA website (www.rapidan.org/subscribe).

We will notify you as soon as we determine that your tap water is safe. We are working with the Virginia Department of Health to resolve this issue.

For more information, contact the Rapidan Service Authority at (540) 972-2133. Updates will be posted on the RSA website (www.rapidan.org).