Subject:
Title
Presentation on the Severe Weather Events Effects on the Harrisonburg Water Treatment Plant
Body
Presented By: Mike Collins, Director of Public Utilities
Recommendation and Review
Heavy rains last week in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area resulted in high turbidity in the City’s raw water supply. The chemical water treatment techniques commonly utilized to eliminate high turbidity became ineffective on many batches of water entering the Water Treatment Plant beginning the morning of May 14, 2025. This triggered a complete plant shutdown and no production of new potable water for 24 hours and a need to rely on the City’s potable water storage and Rockingham County’s potable water. As of May 22, 2025 water production at the Water Treatment Plant is fully restored and storage replenished. City staff will present to City Council on the impact of the severe weather on the Water Treatment Plant and the immediate steps taken by the dedicated team at the Department of Public Utilities to restore water production and to mitigate the possibility of a boil water advisory.