BY DONNIE JOHNSTON

Tests show that municipal water for customers at the south end of Culpeper is safe, so a water-boiling advisory issued Tuesday has been lifted.

"The test results are good news," said town operations manager Chris Hively. "We felt confident that the tests would come back negative for contaminants, but as a precautionary measure and to comply with Virginia Department of Health requirements, the boil water notice was required until those tests did come back clear."

Water samples tested Tuesday and Wednesday were both free of contaminants.

The advisory to boil drinking water was issued after a 12-inch water main located on Blue Ridge Avenue near Southgate Shopping Center ruptured shortly before 8 p.m. Monday.

Repairs were completed that night and all customers were back on line by Tuesday morning. Water pressure, however, was low for a time and contamination was possible.

The exact cause of the water main break has not been determined. The line was laid in 1977.

Donnie Johnston:
Email: djohnston@freelancestar.com