When Richmond’s water plant released excess fluoride into the local water supply last month, Chesterfield found out before Richmond’s own public utilities director because a city employee called the county’s 911 center, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: It suggests a breakdown in the city’s communication protocol that once again raises concerns about how Richmond’s water plant alerts agencies about potential emergencies.
- While city officials said the water — shared by Hanover, Henrico and Chesterfield — was always safe to drink, the counties weren’t aware there was an issue for nearly five days.
The timeline: The Virginia Department of Emergency Management became aware of the issue because a Richmond water plant employee called them at 8:39pm on April 27 — over half an hour after a worker called Chesterfield, a VDEM spokesperson told Axios.
- It’s unclear whether the same worker called Chesterfield and VDEM but texts obtained through records requests and statements from VDEM, the city and Chesterfield confirm both were contacted by a Richmond employee.
- VDEM then told the Virginia Department of Health around 8:45pm, per a VDH spokesperson.
- Mayor Avula wouldn’t find out until roughly two hours later.
Zoom in: After the Richmond employee called Chesterfield, the county’s Department of Public Utilities reached out to Richmond’s water plant.
- Chesterfield DPU director George Hayes texted Richmond DPU director Scott Morris at 9:16pm on April 27, saying, “We spoke to your Plant Manager and the report is unfounded at this time.”
Yes, but: Texts that RTD obtained show Sabrina Joy-Hogg, Richmond’s chief administrative officer, telling Avula that she and Morris found out after 10pm.
- Richmond officials didn’t immediately respond to Axios’ requests for comment on the discrepancy and whether Morris found out from Chesterfield or VDH first.
Meanwhile, per RTD, Mayor Avula learned about the fluoride issue when Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas texted him at 10:43pm on April 27.
Friction point: Texts between Chesterfield and Richmond’s DPU directors also showed that Chesterfield was waiting for the city to publicly share the fluoride spike first before they sent their own press release.
- “I am not sending ahead of Richmond,” Hayes wrote around 6pm on April 28. A county spokesperson told Axios that Chesterfield “didn’t want to create any unnecessary confusion with the public.”
- The city’s press release was sent out at 6:21pm on April 28 — nearly 24 hours after Chesterfield found out.
Original article online at: https://www.axios.com/local/richmond/2025/05/20/fluoride-spike-richmond-whistleblower