Types of Water Emergencies

dripping water from faucets

What Is a Water Emergency?

A water emergency is any event that disrupts the normal supply of clean water to your home. Water emergencies can be caused by:

Home emergencies, such as:
  • Leaky pipes
  • Frozen pipes
  • Leaky appliances
Water system emergencies, such as:
  • Chemical spills
  • Broken water mains
  • Power outages
  • Failure of water storage tanks or other equipment
  • Treatment plant breakdowns
  • Water contamination
  • Natural disasters, such as:
  • Storms
  • Floods
  • Tornadoes
  • Forest or brush fires
  • Droughts
  • Earthquakes
  • High winds

If you wish to report a water emergency or get immediate information about an emergency in your area, call Prince William Water at (703) 335-7982.

Types of Water Emergencies

The quality and the quantity of your drinking water may be affected by a water emergency. For example:
  • Photo: dry, cracked earth

    Drought

    Less water may be available due to drought, overuse, etc.

  • An oil or chemical spill in a river

    Chemical Spills or Pollution

    The water supply may be polluted with sediment, sewage, toxic substances, etc.

  • Photo: the top of a large water tank

    Infrastructure Issues

    Storage tanks may be contaminated, damaged or destroyed.

  • Photo: downed power lines

    Power Outages

    Power lines may be downed, making electric pumps unusable.

  • Photo: a frozen outdoor faucet

    Frozen Pipes

    Water pipes may freeze or be broken, shutting off the water flow.

Related Emergencies

Sometimes a water emergency is accompanied by other kinds of emergencies. For information on how to prepare for a general emergency and what to do in an emergency, visit your local government's official emergency information page:

You can also find general information about emergency preparedness here: