The Shadow
COVINGTON, Va (VR) – A water main break in Covington left portions of the city under a boil water advisory for days, forcing schools to go virtual and sending residents scrambling for safe drinking water.
City officials said the break, first identified on Thursday, March 26, 2026, occurred off South Carpenter Drive near the CSX railroad. The incident caused a complete loss of water or low water pressure in numerous areas of Covington and parts of Alleghany County.
A boil water advisory, updated Saturday, March 28, remains in effect for affected neighborhoods. The notice is not citywide but covers areas that experienced low or no water pressure, including South Carpenter Drive, Parrish Court, Edgemont Drive, Jackson Street, adjoining streets, and nearby side streets and surrounding areas.
Residents in those areas have been advised to boil water for one minute before use or rely on bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and making ice. Officials warned that low pressure can allow contaminants into the system, potentially making tap water unsafe.
The leak was stopped at about 10 p.m. Friday, March 27, and customers who had low water pressure were told they should see service begin to improve. However, permanent repairs are more complicated because the damaged line is close to the railroad, and city crews must coordinate with CSX to access the site. CSX has scheduled access for early the following week so repairs can proceed.
To help maintain fire protection and assist residents still without water, the Alleghany County Fire Department tanker task force has been deployed. Officials directed citizens needing help to call 540-965-6333.
The disruption has rippled through local schools. Covington Middle School and Jeter Watson Elementary School were closed on Friday, March 27, with students shifting to virtual learning because of the boil water advisory and loss of reliable water service.
Amid the uncertainty, local businesses have become a visible source of assistance. Brandon Wright, owner of Kam’s Kleeners, a newly renovated laundromat in Covington opened his washers at no charge to residents affected by the water problems.
“We understand some of our hometown residents are having water issues. “We want to do what we can to help,” Wright went on to say by offering free use of washers between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. for households hit by the outage. He also pledged to continue the offer on both Saturday and Sunday if any delays in water service continued.
Wright Way Motors also distributed bottled water and announced that several cases of water would be placed in front of the dealership for affected Covington residents to pick up at their convenience.
The Virginian Review would like to commend Brandon Wright on giving back to the community in a time of need.
While official repairs await railroad access and full system testing, the city’s advisory and the community response have underscored both the fragility of critical infrastructure and the role of local businesses in filling gaps during emergencies. As one account of the effort put it, this has become a story of “neighbors helping neighbors,” at a time when many Covington residents have been left without reliable water at home.
Stay tuned to Virginian Review for updates as they become available.
