VCU Health Impacts Due to Boil Water Weather Advisory

Editor’s note: This article will continue to be updated with new information on the current situation. For the most up-to-date information on impacts to VCU Health and VCU, visit VCU Alert Page. There you can also sign up to receive text messages with the latest updates. (Last update: January 7, 12:55 p.m.)

By Sara McCloskey

Like many in Central Virginia, VCU Health is experiencing impacts due to weather conditions and the boil water notice issued by the City of Richmond Monday afternoon.

Snow and ice overnight Monday and Tuesday caused potentially hazardous driving conditions. As of midday Tuesday, Richmond city officials said they had restored water production. The city will maintain the boil water advisory until all required testing is completed. Residents are therefore asked to continue to conserve water and boil it before consuming it.

There are several changes to operations starting Tuesday, January 7.

• All elective endoscopic and surgical procedures at the Ambulatory Care Center, VCU Medical Center, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR), and Stony Point are canceled and will be rescheduled.
• All outpatient diagnostic/imaging testing procedures at VCU Medical Center, CHoR, Ambulatory Care Center, Adult Outpatient Pavilion, and Stony Point are canceled and will be rescheduled.
• All clinics in downtown Richmond, including the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) and CHoR Brook Road outpatient clinics, are closed.
• Williamsburg clinics are closed.
• All VCU Health outpatient clinics in Tappahannock and Fredericksburg as well as CHoR Therapies in Fredericksburg and Stafford will operate on a staggered schedule on Tuesday, January 7. Please note: Tappahannock Hospital outpatient services are open and operating on a normal schedule.

If you have any questions regarding your appointment or rescheduling, we recommend contacting the VCU Health Patient Appointment Center at (804)-828-7929.

Boil water advisories mean that tap water is not safe to drink. Here are some of the things you should do to ensure you are using water safely:

• Do not drink tap water during this boil water advisory.
• Do not drink from water fountains in parks, public or private buildings that receive water from the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities.
• Do not use water-based ice on Monday or Tuesday. Discard the ice and disinfect the ice machine and/or ice bins. This also applies to water and ice dispensed directly from a refrigerator.
• Do not use tap water to make fountain drinks, juices or soft drinks.
• Don’t wash your dishes in tap water – use boiled water or use paper plates for the next few days.
• Don’t wash your fruit and vegetables with tap water – use boiled or bottled water.
• Don’t brush your teeth with tap water – use boiled or bottled water.
• Do not cook with tap water unless your food has been boiled vigorously for three minutes.

Under a boil water advisory, you must also conserve water. Here are some tips:

• Eliminate or shorten shower times.
• Avoid unnecessary flushing.
• Avoid washing clothes for as long as possible.
• Postpone the dishes if possible.
• Check all faucets, shower heads and under cabinets for drips.

As the situation continues to evolve, we will provide more updates on health system impacts and other information to patients and community members. This article will continue to be updated with new information on the current situation.