Lacks Properly Licensed Operator(s)

Our water system recently violated a drinking water regulation.  Although this situation does not require that you take immediate action, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened, what you should do, and what we did (are doing) to correct this situation.  The water treatment plant operates up to 16 hours a day, 7 days a week and we are required to staff the plant with a Class 1 licensed operator whenever the plant is in operation.  As a result of recent retirements, we currently have one Class 1 Operator and as such we do not have a Class 1 operator at the waterworks during all plant shifts.  We have multiple experienced licensed waterworks operators including operators with more than 30 years’ experience at our treatment plant, but only one has a Class 1 license.  We are continuing our recruiting efforts to hire additional Class 1 operators to meet the operator staffing requirements.

What should I do?

There is nothing you need to do. You do not need to boil your water or take other corrective actions. The drinking water produced by the plant is currently meeting all state and federal health and quality standards.

What does this mean?

This is not an emergency.  If it had been, you would have been notified within 24 hours. 

What is being done?

We are taking the necessary steps to ensure that we have enough Class 1 licensed operators, in order to bring our waterworks into compliance and proper permit status.  We anticipate resolving the problem within 6 months. 

For more information, please contact Mr. Allen Dressler, City Manager, at 540-965-6300 or 333 W. Locust St, Covington VA 24426.

*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. *

This notice is being sent to you by City of Covington.  State Water System ID#: 2580100.

Date distributed: 09/05/2023.