Gov. Youngkin criticizes Richmond city in report on water system failure

RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) released a report Wednesday accusing Richmond city officials of faulty practices that led to the failure of a 100-year-old water treatment plant in January and left residents — including the governor — without water for nearly a week.

“The disruption of a safe and reliable water supply in Richmond this past January never should have happened,” Youngkin said in a news release announcing the report Wednesday evening, adding that he has directed the state Department of Health to take “all corrective actions” to prevent another failure. “The people of Richmond and the surrounding counties persevered through this preventable crisis, and now it’s time for city leaders to step up for their citizens.”