Oct. 10, 2024

7:30 p.m.

Effective immediately, the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water has lifted the boil water notice for the Town of Blacksburg and Virginia Tech.

You are encouraged to flush faucets for 5-10 minutes to introduce new water throughout house or apartment plumbing and discard any ice made during the boil water notice. Read these instructions for flushing water through your home.

Thank you to all members of the Virginia Tech community for your patience over the past 11 days and to the many employees and student volunteers who have worked tirelessly to help and support others in our community.

From Dining Services

Dining Services is preparing to reopen all dining facilities following the recent water boil notice and wants to keep the community informed about the steps being taken to ensure safety and service quality. It will take some time to fully reopen all dining operations throughout campus.

Currently, all water and equipment filters are being changed, water and equipment lines (including those for soda, espresso/coffee, and drink machines) are being thoroughly flushed, and ice machines and certain pieces of equipment are being cleaned and sanitized. In the meantime, purchased ice will be used.

Dining Services will continue to work diligently to restore full service and appreciates your patience in advance.  For the latest information on what facilities are fully open and their hours, please visit dining.vt.edu/hours.

Oct. 9, 2024

12:35 p.m.

Dining Services is preparing to reopen all dining facilities when the water boil notice lifts, which is expected on Friday, Oct. 11. Steps will be taken to ensure safety and service quality. It will take some time to fully reopen all dining operations throughout campus.

Dining Services will work diligently to restore full service and appreciates your patience in advance.  For the latest information on what facilities are fully open and their hours, please visit dining.vt.edu/hours.

Oct. 8, 2024

1:30 p.m.

While the Virginia Department of Health’s Office of Drinking Water (VDH-ODW) has lifted the boil water advisory for some areas of Montgomery County, it remains in effect for the Town of Christiansburg, Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, and the remainder of Montgomery County PSA customers.

The boil water advisory has been lifted for:

  • Prices Fork service area (Montgomery County PSA)
  • Belview service area (Montgomery County PSA)
  • Peppers Ferry Road Corridor (Town of Christiansburg)
  • Cambria Street service area (Town of Christiansburg)

To determine if the advisory has been lifted in your service area, view the map at montva.com/boil-water-notice-status-map.

Lifting the boil water advisory in a specific area depends on successful testing to confirm the absence of bacteria in the water distribution and storage systems. This phased approach aims to lift the advisory as safely and rapidly as possible.

Pending final test results, below please find the updated timeline to lift the boil water advisory throughout the New River Valley Regional Water Authority’s service area:

Montgomery County PSA Customers (remaining service areas):

  • Oct. 9: Bethel
  • Oct. 9: Mud Pike
  • Oct. 9: Plum Creek
  • Oct. 9: Riner
  • Oct. 13: Alleghany Springs
  • Oct. 13: Elliston
  • Oct. 13: Lafayette
  • Oct. 13: Shawsville

Town of Christiansburg (remaining service areas):

  • Oct. 11

Town of Blacksburg

  • Oct. 11

Virginia Tech

  • Oct. 11

The estimated timeline is a goal, but contingent entirely on testing results and final approval from VDH-ODW.

For areas remaining under the boil water advisory, please continue boiling water for cooking and consumption. The water remains safe for showering, bathing, cleaning, and washing clothes or dishes by hand or in a dishwasher.

Virginia Tech will issue a notice using VT Alerts once campus and town water is safe to drink again.

Oct. 7, 2024

9:10 a.m.

Bottled water distribution for residential students will continue throughout the week and weekend. Students will receive their assigned locations and times as sent to their @vt.edu email address. Students are reminded that they must present or swipe their Hokie Passport ID to receive their bottles of water and are encouraged to bring reusable bags. Planned distribution times are as follows:

  • Monday, Oct. 7 through Friday, Oct. 11: Four (4) bottles of water will be distributed from 1 – 6 p.m. 
  • Saturday, Oct. 12 through Sunday, Oct. 13: Four (4) bottles of water will be distributed from Noon – 4 p.m.

Off-campus students should continue to follow boil water instructions. Potable water filling stations are available at Dietrick Hall and Perry Place, and bottled water is available for purchase in dining facilities

Oct. 6, 2024

4 p.m.

Virginia Tech crews completed this stage of flushing of its Blacksburg campus water system on Sunday.

The next step in restoring clean drinking water involves completing two rounds of water system testing, with each round taking up to 24 hours. The boil water notice is expected to remain in effect through the upcoming weekend, Oct. 12-13.

Please continue to boil water for cooking and consumption. The water remains safe for showering, bathing, cleaning, and washing clothes or dishes by hand or in a dishwasher. Virginia Tech will issue a notice via VT Alerts once the water is safe to drink again.

Water testing data from the New River Valley Regional Water Authority is available online.

Oct. 5, 2024

8:20 a.m.

The water system flushing on the Blacksburg campus is underway.

Students who live in campus residence halls and faculty and staff working on campus this weekend may notice discolored water or trace amounts of sediment in water as Virginia Tech flushes the Blacksburg campus water system. It's also likely that water will be visibly flowing across campus roads and greenspaces.

The boil water notice will remain in effect at least through Oct. 12-13.

Virginia Tech will issue a notice via VT Alerts once the water is safe to drink again.

Oct. 4, 2024

4:35 p.m. update

The New River Valley Regional Water Authority is committed to transparency and will make ongoing water testing data publicly available. Community members are encouraged to review these results as ongoing work continues to ensure the safety of our water supply. Again, the boil water notice is still in effect. View water testing results at https://nrvwater.org/water-quality/monthly-water-report/

2:45 p.m. update  

Students who live in campus residence halls and faculty and staff working on campus this weekend may notice discolored water or trace amounts of sediment in water as Virginia Tech begins flushing the Blacksburg campus water system. It's also likely that water will be visibly flowing across campus roads and greenspaces.
 
Flushing is the next step in the multi-step process to restore clean drinking water to the community. The boil water notice will remain in effect at least through Oct. 12-13.
 
Please continue to follow the boil water notice for cooking and consumption. The water remains safe for showering, bathing, cleaning, and washing clothes or dishes by hand or in a dishwasher. Virginia Tech will issue a notice via VT Alerts once the water is safe to drink again.

Oct. 3, 2024

6 p.m. update

Our commitment to the well-being of the Virginia Tech community

3 p.m. update

Water distribution will continue through the rest of the week and weekend for students and the campus community. The following resources will be available:

Potable Water Filling Stations

Potable water filling stations will be available for all students and employees outside of Dietrick Hall at the Quillen Plaza and outside of Perry Place at Hitt Hall throughout the weekend from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Each station is self-serve and intended for personal use, so it is encouraged to use refillable water bottles for filling.

Water Bottle Distribution for Residential Students

Bottled water distribution for residential students will continue through the weekend.  Students will receive their assigned locations and times as sent to their @vt.edu email address. Students are reminded that they must present or swipe their Hokie Passport ID to receive their bottles of water. Planned distribution times are as follows:

  • Thursday, Oct. 3: Two (2) bottles of water will be distributed from 1 – 6 p.m.
  • Friday, Oct. 4: Six (6) bottles of water will be distributed for usage for the weekend from 1 – 7 p.m.
  • Saturday, Oct. 5 through Sunday, Oct. 6: Additional services for distribution will be announced to residential students via email


As a reminder, water distribution will continue until the water boil notice is lifted.

Residential students also have access to the potable water filling stations found outside of Dietrick Hall at the Quillen Plaza and outside of Perry Place at Hitt Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Water for Purchase at Dining Locations

Dining Services does have bottled water for sale in various locations for the campus community wishing to purchase water. Customers may purchase a maximum of two (2) bottles of water, with no bulk or case sales allowed at this time. Potable water can also be found at local grocery and convenience stores, but supplies may be limited — therefore, it is encouraged that students and employees use the potable water filling stations on campus.

Dining Services is continuing to serve students at multiple locations on its Blacksburg campus. Hours and services may vary and the campus community is reminded to visit dining.vt.edu/hours for the most up to date information.

Using Water On and Off-Campus for Personal Needs

The New River Valley Water Authority has stated in their boil water notice that the water is safe for showering, bathing, cleaning, washing clothes, and washing dishes.

Source: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/boil-water-faqs/

9:30 a.m. update

Plan to boil water at least through next weekend, Oct. 12-13.
 
The path and time frame to deliver clean water to residents of Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Virginia Tech, and Montgomery County has come into focus. The boil water notice will continue at least through next weekend, Oct. 12-13.
 
The New River Valley Regional Water Authority has been working diligently around the clock to restore normal operations in the wake of Hurricane Helene. All water samples tested since Oct. 1 at the water treatment facility demonstrate water quality meets or exceeds Virginia Department of Health - Office of Drinking Water (VDH-ODW) requirements. However, water quality tests throughout the entire water distribution and storage systems must pass established VDH-ODW standards before the boil water notice can be lifted.
 
The next step is to flush all local systems. That process will begin upstream in the Town of Christiansburg, continuing downstream in the Town of Blacksburg, Virginia Tech, and then Montgomery County. We anticipate that sequential process will begin sometime today, Oct. 3.

In addition to flushing each system, VDH-ODW requires that water storage tanks must be disinfected before final samples can be taken. To ensure continuous water capacity throughout the process, the disinfection of tanks must be staggered. In other words, all the tanks cannot be drained, cleaned, and disinfected at the same time. This process takes a minimum of 74 hours per tank, which means the boil water notice will continue at least through next weekend, Oct. 12-13.

While flushing takes place, water customers may experience discoloration in their water, but they should simply follow the boil water notice for cooking and consumption. Again, the water is safe for showering, bathing, cleaning, and washing clothes or washing dishes by hand or with a dishwasher. We continue to stay consistent with VDH-ODW guidance. We will provide additional information later today, including water test results.
 
Please continue to monitor the University Status Page for additional updates.

Oct. 2, 2024

2:45 p.m. update

Potable water filling stations will be available for all students and employees outside of Dietrick Hall at the Quillen Plaza and outside of Perry Place at Hitt Hall starting today, Wednesday, Oct. 2, until 5 p.m. These stations will also be accessible from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day until the boil water notice is lifted. Each station is self-serve and intended for personal use, so it is encouraged to use refillable water bottles for filling.

9:10 a.m. update

Bottled water distribution for residential students will continue today and take place from 1 - 6 p.m. at their assigned locations as sent to their @vt.edu email address. Students are reminded that they must present or swipe their Hokie Passport ID to receive two (2) bottles of water.

Oct. 1, 2024

6:20 p.m. update

At this time the boil water notice is still in effect for customers of the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, Virginia Tech, and Montgomery County Public Service Authority Waterworks. As of this afternoon, water treatment levels have stabilized at the New River Valley Regional Water Authority.

However, several key steps must be achieved before the boil water notice can be lifted. First, all water supply lines must be flushed, meaning existing water in the lines will be emptied through a variety of outlets to include fire hydrants and flushing valves. Then, the Water Authority and its members have to complete two rounds of testing on the water supply systems. Each round of testing takes up to 24 hours to complete. Once the water testing is complete and Virginia Department of Health determines the water is safe for consumption, then the boil water notice will be lifted. Multiple tests over 24 hour periods may be necessary to ensure the water is safe for consumption.

As a result, we anticipate the process to lift the boil water notice will continue through the weekend. Please make preparations to boil your water through the weekend.

Thank you for your continued patience as crews continue to work throughout the day and night to resolve this issue in our community.

Virginia Tech will issue a notice using VT Alerts once campus and town water is safe to drink again.

11:30 a.m. update

Bottled water distribution for residential students will take place from 1 - 6 p.m. today at their assigned locations as sent to to their @vt.edu email address. Students are reminded that they must present or swipe their Hokie Passport ID to receive two (2) bottles of water. Students who live off campus should continue to follow instructions on boiling water as issued in the notice from the New River Valley Water Authority.

9:15 a.m. update

Bottled water distribution will continue for residential students today. Upon delivery, all residential students will receive notification of their assigned water distribution location and time to their @vt.edu email address. Students will receive two (2) bottles of water at no cost, and students are reminded that they must present or swipe their Hokie Passport ID at their distribution location.

7:45 a.m. update

Virginia Tech Dining Services continues to serve students at multiple locations on its Blacksburg campus. Hours and services may vary. For the latest information -- to see what's open and what's closed -- please visit dining.vt.edu/hours.

Sept. 30, 2024

8:45 p.m. update

New River Valley Regional Water Authority boil water notice FAQs

5:20 p.m. update

Beginning this evening, Monday, Sept. 30, bottled water distribution will begin for residential students and will continue as needed. Due to incoming delivery logistics, distribution times may vary — therefore, all residential students will receive notification of their assigned water distribution location and time to their @vt.edu email address. Each student will receive two (2) bottles of water per day at no cost, and students must present or swipe their Hokie Passport ID at their distribution location.

Students who live off campus should continue to follow instructions on boiling water as issued in the notice from the New River Valley Water Authority. Students should bring clean water to campus as all fountain drink stations and water fountains are unavailable until further notice.

Dining Services will have bottled water for sale in various locations for students wishing to purchase water. Customers may purchase a maximum of two (2) bottles of water, with no bulk or case sales allowed at this time. Potable water can also be found at local grocery and convenience stores, but supplies may be limited.

3:30 p.m. update

Virginia Tech's Division of Student Affairs is working diligently to ensure students have access to safe drinking water.

Every student room at Virginia Tech is equipped with a microfridge, a combination mini fridge, freezer, and microwave, which means every student has the ability to boil water in their room. Almost all residence halls have at least one, if not multiple, kitchens that they can access to boil water as well.

Initial update -- Sept. 30, 12:05 p.m.

Boil your tap water. Failure to follow this advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness.

The Virginia Department of Health in conjunction with the Montgomery County Health Department, and New River Valley Regional Water Authority Water System are advising residents to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking purposes as a safety precaution. This precaution is necessary due to historic flooding on the New River creating challenging water quality conditions and finished water turbidities exceeding 1.0 NTU.

Do not drink tap water without boiling it first.

Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, beverage and food preparation, and making ice until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water. Boiling is the preferred method to assure that the tap water is safe to drink. Bring all tap water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Use caution boiling water; let water cool before attempting to move container to avoid spills, scalds and burns. Boil amounts of water that you can safely handle.

Do not drink tap water without boiling it first. If you cannot boil your tap water….

  • An alternative method of purification for residents that do not have gas or electricity available is to use liquid household bleach to disinfect water. The bleach product should be recently purchased, free of additives and scents, and should contain a hypochlorite solution of at least 5.25%. Public health officials recommend adding 8 drops of bleach (about ¼ teaspoon) to each gallon of water. The water should be stirred and allowed to stand for at least 30 minutes before use.
  • Water purification tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Potable water is available at the following locations: local grocery and convenience stores.

You will be informed when you no longer need to boil your water via VT Alerts.

Questions:

Research faculty who use a large amount of water in their work may contact Environmental Health and Safety at 540-231-3600.

Questions from students living on campus should be directed to Residential Well Being at dsafacilities@vt.edu.

General boil water information: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/boil-water-faqs/

Find the latest information on the University Status Page.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

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