Emergency Officials have issued a boil advisory for the ENTIRETY of Washington DC

🚨#BREAKING: Emergency officials have just issued a Boil water advisory for the entirety of Washington, DC

📌#Washington | #DC

Emergency officials have issued a boil advisory for the entirety of Washington, DC, including the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and Reagan… pic.twitter.com/JsLEC9oO4H

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 4, 2024

• Reason for Advisory:
  • The advisory was prompted by concerns about cloudy water and the need to ensure an adequate water supply for potential firefighting during the holiday weekend.
  • The increased algae bloom in the Potomac River led to clogged filters at the Dalecarlia water treatment facility, affecting water supply.
  • Backup Measures: D.C. Water shifted to using the MacMillan treatment facility as a backup.
  • Chemical Treatment: The aqueduct used additional chemicals (copper sulfate and sodium permanganate) to combat the algae and improve water flow.
• Lifting of Advisory:
  • The boil water advisory was quickly lifted because regular testing indicated that the treated water never deviated from drinking water standards.
  • This marked the first time in nearly 30 years that such an advisory was issued for all of D.C..
• Affected Areas:
  • In addition to D.C., the advisory impacted nearly all of Arlington County, including the Pentagon, Arlington National Cemetery, and Reagan National Airport.
  • Arlington County also confirmed that residents could safely drink tap water after the advisory was lifted.