Virginia American Water has shut down a treatment plant serving about 9,400 customers following a diesel fuel spill in the Appomattox River.
Virginia American Water spokeswoman Samantha Villegas tells media outlets that about 600 gallons of fuel spilled into the river from property owned by the company. The cause of the spill hasn't been determined.
The company issued a mandatory water conservation notice to customers in the Hopewell area. Villegas says Hopewell could run out of water by midday Tuesday. The company is making arrangements to bring in water tanker trucks and bottled water.
Hopewell schools were closing early because of the risk of running out of water.
