Purcellville Water Main Break Update

Following Wednesday’s (Oct. 29) water main break near the Mayfair community, Town of Purcellville crews teams have completed all immediate repairs to the affected section of the Water Treatment Plant to Town Water Main, originally installed in 1963. The break prompted a town-wide Boil Water Advisory, which remains in effect as officials work with the Virginia Department of Health to ensure water quality and safety before lifting the advisory.

Town officials confirmed that the water line has been fully repaired and that the first round of water samples has been submitted to a certified laboratory for testing. Flushing operations are also being conducted throughout the town to restore normal water quality.

Residents can be assured that the Boil Water Advisory will not be lifted until laboratory results confirm the water is safe to drink. Testing is being prioritized through coordination with Delegate Geary Higgins (VA-30), who immediately contacted the Governor’s Office and the VDH to expedite the review process.

Approximately 300,000 gallons of water were drained from the system during the incident.

Until the advisory is lifted, residents should continue using boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, and preparing beverages. Boiling water for one minute remains the most effective method of disinfection. For those unable to boil water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends an alternative method using liquid household bleach (unscented, containing 5.25% sodium hypochlorite): add eight drops per gallon, stir, and let stand for 30 minutes before use. Additional information is available on the CDC’s website under “Drinking Water Advisories: An Overview.”

Residents will be notified through official town communication channels once the advisory is lifted. Sign-ups for alerts are available at https://purcellvilleva.gov/list.aspx, and emergency notifications can be received via Loudoun Alert at https://www.loudoun.gov/alert.

The affected water main, known as The Water Treatment Plant to Town Water Main, serves as a major distribution line. Half of the line was replaced recently during Phase I of a planned multi-phase improvement project funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. Phase I, completed in fiscal year 2024, replaced approximately 5,000 linear feet of aging cast-iron pipe. The project began design work in fiscal year 2022 and continued through 2023 and 2024.

Some residents have questioned whether the recent break is linked to delays or denials of Capital Improvement Program projects by the Town Council. However, town staff have not identified the remaining section of this water main as a priority in the CIP cycle. While Phase II of the replacement has been discussed as a potential future project, it has not been formally programmed or prioritized, as other infrastructure work—such as the elevated water storage tank project—currently in process.

Town engineers have designed the new water tank’s underground connections with a series of valves that could potentially give an option of removing the need to replace more of the line of the Water Treatment Plant to Town Water Main. The new line has shut off and water pressure capability.

Once the VDH confirms the safety of Purcellville’s water supply, the Town will lift the Boil Water Advisory and provide public notice through the same channels used to issue the initial alert.