News Flash

On Monday, April 28, 2025, Goochland County learned of the incident which released a higher-than-recommended concentration of fluoride into the City of Richmond’s water supply. According to reports, the City of Richmond’s Water Treatment Plant experienced an issue on Wednesday, April 23 during installation of a new fluoride pump, which led to a temporary increase in the level of fluoride in the water system for a period of five hours. However, the City has assured their neighboring water systems that the overflow did not cause levels of fluoride in the water to exceed acceptable state and federal compliance limits. The City proactively flushed their water system where necessary and have been monitoring fluoride levels within their entire distribution system. 

Fortunately, this was an isolated incident and Goochland County Public Utilities did not expect elevated fluoride levels of water to reach customers on the East End Water System or to impact Goochland’s water supply in any way. Out of an abundance of caution, Goochland County Public Utilities has been performing daily fluoride testing on the water that enters our system from Henrico County. Test results show that fluoride levels are, and have been, within normal acceptable levels. Recent reports from the City of Richmond and Henrico County indicate that fluoride levels have returned to normal levels in their systems. We will continue enhanced monitoring of fluoride levels in the East End Water System through the end of this week to ensure they remain at normal levels. Following this, we will return to our normal testing procedures. Public health is not at risk and Goochland’s drinking water remains safe to consume. 

Goochland County Public Utilities purchases water for the East End Water System from Henrico County and the Henrico County Water Treatment Plant located in western Henrico. The water for the Goochland Courthouse Water System is purchased from the Department of Corrections and originates at their Water Treatment Plant on River Road West. 

Goochland customers with questions related to their water service should contact the Goochland Department of Public Utilities at (804) 556-5835.  For more information on fluoride and fluoridation levels, visit the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water: https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/office-of-drinking-water/fluoridation/.