Water back on at Richmond jail

The water is back on at the Richmond City Jail after extensive repairs following the rupture of pipes to two housing units several days ago.

Water resumed flowing at 7:30 a.m., said Lt Col. Walter Allmon of the Sheriff’s Office.

While inmates are free to shower, Allmon said deputies asked prisoners not to drink the water until this evening, because the water was treated with chemicals overnight, after the system was shut down for repairs.

He said the water is safe to drink, but tastes of the chemicals, which will be flushed from the system by the evening.

The jail has been supplied with 20,000 individual bottles of water, as well as bottled water for kitchen cleanup, while working to fix the water pipes