RICHMOND, Va — When peoples’ water pressure dropped in parts of Richmond last week due to power loss at city pump stations, it highlighted a gap in the Department of Public Utilities’ (DPU) backup power systems that was also apparent in the water crisis of 2025.
But this time, DPU’s response mitigated significant and prolonged water disruptions for customers.
According to DPU, it all started when a car ran into a utility pole the evening of November 2, which knocked out power to two pump stations that service the city’s Fan and Northside neighborhoods.
Many customers reported to CBS 6 that their water pressure was low that evening…