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# Car strikes utility pole, leading to brief drop in water pressure
- URL: https://www.richmonder.org/some-richmonders-report-reduced-water-pressure/
- Published: 2026-11-03T00:52:59.000Z
- Updated: 2026-11-03T02:48:16.000Z
- Description: The pumping station, located in Byrd Park, switched to generator power after the outage.
- Author: Michael Phillips
- Tags: Local News, #the-bridge

A vehicle struck a utility pole near Oregon Hill on Monday evening, resulting in a power outage at the city's Byrd Park water pumping station.

Police responded to the crash at 7:09 p.m., and residents in several Richmond neighborhoods, including the Fan, reported a drop in water pressure over the following hour.

At 8:38 p.m., the Department of Public Utilities confirmed that the pumping station had been moved to a backup generator, and water pressure was returning to the system.

In a statement, a DPU spokesperson said water remained safe to drink throughout.

"The system pressure remained above 20 psi throughout the event, and the water supply remained safe for consumption," they wrote. "There is no boil water advisory associated with this incident."

The water outage came nearly two years after the city was without drinkable water for most of a week after a power outage led to flooding at the city's main water treatment plant.

Monday's issue was at the Trafford Pump Station in Byrd Park. The [Virginia Department of Health's after-action report](https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/6/2025/04/REDACTED%5FCRITICAL-INFRASTRUCTURE%5FSEH-Richmond-Water-Works-Root-Cause-Analysis-and-Needs-Assessment-2.pdf) on the 2025 water crisis gave an evaluation of the facility.

"The backup generator is manually connected using 15 parallel cables," inspectors wrote. "According to the operator, this generator has not been needed in the last 30 years but is available if needed."

The VDH report said that the electrical switchgear was manufactured in 1992, and recommended replacing it within the next 10 years.

The city anticipated requesting bids for replacement equipment in late 2027, according to [a forecasting document from earlier this year](https://rva.gov/sites/default/files/2026-02/Forecast%20Projects%20Calendar%20-%20Feb%202026.pdf).

Information was not immediately available on the switchover process between regular power and the generator. The DPU spokesperson confirmed that the pumping station is staffed on a 24/7 basis.

During the 2025 water crisis, it was a snowstorm that knocked out power. On Monday night, it was a driver who crashed into a utility pole at Harrison and Idlewood streets.

In addition to the outage at the pumping station, Dominion Energy's outage map showed about 700 customers without power, primarily in Oregon Hill and Randolph, immediately after the crash.

The outage also impacted the first game of the VCU men's basketball season. A public address announcement at the game informed fans of the low water pressure, which impacted restroom facilities at the Siegel Center.

*Contact Michael Phillips at* [*mphillips@richmonder.org*](mailto:mphillips@richmonder.org)*.*