<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0FAxLn_0vjL6uC700" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0FAxLn_0vjL6uC700" width="1320" height="743" >VIRGINIA (7News) — For roughly a week in August, dozens of Rapidan Service Authority (RSA) customers in Virginia were told not to drink or clean with water from their taps after reports of an odor similar to WD-40 in the water supply.Turns out it wasn't WD-40 that caused it, but rather two to three gallons of food-grade mineral oil that were likely burned before being released from a raw water intake pump that failed "catastrophically", according to the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) Office of Drinking Water (ODW).That report, issued Tuesday outlined a series of mechanical and electrical failures on several pumps in the days before and after August 20, though the RSA did not issue its first advisory until the following day after getting multiple reports.PREVIOUS COVERAGE |Orange County updates water advisory: Bathing and laundry now safe, drinking still bannedThe mineral oil found in the water is not a health hazard, according to VDH, but the August incident showed how it could significantly alter the taste and odor of water. Water samples were taken to Texas for evaluation, where they were found that burning or heating mineral oil would produce a powerful odor, according to documents.In the VDH's report, RSA apparently did not have "adequate monitoring systems" to detect the mineral oil early on, nor did they have the proper oversight of contractors and subcontractors who installed or repaired the pumps. This led to temporary wiring that likely led to the instability and the failure, according to VDH.One of the failed pumps was newly installed weeks before its failure, according to the report.RSA said it is working with the Virginia Health officials to prevent similar future incidents.“RSA intends to thoroughly evaluate and implement the necessary protocols to prevent anything like this from occurring again in the future.” said RSA General Manager Tim Clemons in a statement. “RSA is committed to operating the Wilderness water system in the best manner possible and meeting the needs of our customers. It is our goal to provide both the best water that we can, as well as providing excellent customer service to those we serve."After leaders on August 21 issued a "Do Not Use Water Advisory" for residents who got their water from the Wilderness Water Treatment Plant, schools in Orange County were closed and small bottled water stations were set up around the county.It also began a multi-agency response, where agencies gathered 98 total samples for more than 2,350 individual results, according to a statement.That order was changed to a Do Not Drink Water Advisory on August 24, and all advisories were cleared by August 27, officials said.</div></body>

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\"Catastrophic\" pump failure left hundreds in Orange Co. without water for days; VDH

VIRGINIA (7News) — For roughly a week in August, dozens of Rapidan Service Authority (RSA) customers in Virginia were told not to drink or clean with water from their taps after reports of an odor similar to WD-40 in the water supply. Turns out it wasn't WD-40 that caused...