Richmond avoided another water crisis after a break in a 36-inch water main left parts of the city and Henrico with low to no water pressure.

Why it matters: The incident didn't become last year's disaster. But an incorrect emergency alert and reports from residents who never received notifications renewed scrutiny of the city's emergency communications.

The latest: Repairs — which started yesterday — will be "extensive" and take "several weeks" without disrupting water service, per the city.

• The city said yesterday it doesn't have a more specific repair timeline yet but plans to post weekly updates on Fridays.
• City spokesperson Rhonda Johnson told Axios extreme heat didn't contribute to the break, and the 50- to 60-year-old pipe was nearing "the end of its useful life" and had already been flagged for replacement.

Yes, but: The city hasn't fully explained reports that some CivicReady users in affected areas didn't receive alerts meant to flag water service interruptions.

Catch up quick: Officials detected a drop in water pressure around 1:30am Friday, but some residents in the Fan began experiencing low water pressure around 11:30pm Thursday.

• A 2:36am emergency alert said the water main break was at pump stations near Byrd Park and the University of Richmond. Officials later said it was downtown near the canal.
• The break's exact location and when the pipe failed remain unclear.

Zoom in: At 10:29am Friday, officials said they largely restored water within hours, though some residents continued to be impacted.

• Henrico said it had low water pressure due to valve closures needed to isolate Richmond's water main break.
• By Saturday night, on the hottest Fourth of July on record (more below), multiple people said they still had low water pressure.
• By Sunday, Bar West near the Country Club of Virginia closed early because of low water pressure.

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Speaking of water, Richmond-area households aren't the only ones being asked to conserve during the drought: data centers also have to cut back.

Why it matters: Public frustration over the drought has centered in part on data centers' water use, but local officials say data centers are also being asked to conserve — and aren't among the region's largest water consumers.

Driving the news: On July 1, officials asked residents of Richmond and its surrounding counties to scale back water use.

• Data centers — and all water users — in the Richmond-area localities are included in the conservation efforts, officials told multiple media outlets.

Yes, but: Data centers aren't necessarily the biggest water users many assume they are, Axios' Amy Harder reports.

• The same is true in metro Richmond, including Henrico, which has the region's largest concentration of data centers.

Zoom in: In Henrico, apartment complexes and hospitals guzzle the most of the county's water, Henrico Department of Public Utilities director Bentley Chan told the Virginia Mercury.

• Food, drink and pharmaceutical producers also outrank data centers in water use, Chan told WTVR.

Between the lines: The concerns about data centers' water use is largely a substitute for people's overall worries about the fast-growing industry, experts told Axios.

• And data centers are complying with local water restrictions, the Data Center Coalition told WTVR.

What we're watching: Virginians will have a much clearer picture of how much water data centers use under a new state law.

• Starting in January, water providers (like the city) have to report how much they supply to data centers.

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A three-alarm fire at the Darby House senior apartments in eastern Henrico late Saturday displaced over 60 people, with four taken to the hospital for evaluation. (WTVR)

• Meanwhile, Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Church Hill, which was pivotal to the city's Civil Rights Movement, burned down Sunday night. (WTVR)

🚂 The two derailed CSX train cars have been removed from the track, and repairs to the damaged track and trestle are expected to be completed this morning. (Times-Dispatch)

• Work will then begin to get the cars out of the Canal.

🤲 Perdue is suing its rival, Soules Foods, in federal court in Virginia, alleging it copied the packaging and branding of its viral "6 7" chicken nuggets inspired by the internet meme. (New York Times)

• Soules disagrees with the claims.

There's a make-your-own ramen bar in Short Pump.

Why it matters: The Ramyun Zip has floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with over 100 ramen flavors.

The big picture: At the Korean spot, flavors are organized by mild, medium, spicy, extra spicy, halal and vegan.

• Options range from beef bulgogi and kimchi to lobster and curry chicken.
• And additional toppings include crab meat, fried tofu, veggie dumplings, meatballs and more.

How it works: Pick a ramen ($5.50), choose if you want unlimited toppings for another $3 (do it), then pay at the counter before heading to the stations above.

The bottom line: Yes, the store-bought version is cheaper, but the fun lies in turning instant ramen into an outing. Worth it.

More of the menu

Welp, it's official: Fourth of July 2026 was Richmond's hottest on record, according to the National Weather Service.

Why it matters: Those of us who sweated through it can tell our grandchildren how we survived... likely poolside and with an iced beverage.

By the numbers: The high temperature hit 100 degrees on Saturday, July 4, per NWS.

• That tied it with the former 100-degree record set in 2002.

Yes, but: Richmond's heat index reached 114 degrees on Saturday, per WTVR weatherman Zach Daniel.

• Back in 2002, the region's high heat index was between 105 and 110 degrees, per NWS.
• That means this Fourth of July felt hotter than 2002.

The bottom line: Start crafting how you'll spin the tale for the next generation now.

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