How to Handle Public Water Crises More Efficiently

In May of this year, a water advisory was issued for large parts of Richmond, Virginia, months after a significant water crisis had taken place earlier in 2025. The water advisory assured residents that the water is safe for consumption, but with one condition: boil before drinking. Moreover, people were advised to conserve as much water as they could, since the resolution of the situation wasn’t clear yet. According to reports, the advisory was issued after an operational issue at the city's water treatment plant caused filters to clog. A previous report from the Virginia Department of Health deemed the similar crisis in January avoidable.

This recent water crisis indicates an undeniable truth: the reliability of municipal water infrastructure is mandatory, yet unfortunately often neglected. Solutions like Mentor Water Technologies’ TotalPure Pro®, an advanced ultrafiltration system engineered to reduce microbial contaminants in public water systems, can be the tool that authorities need to prevent water crisis-related events. Such a failure at a treatment plant, even if temporary, can threaten public health on a wide scale.

To Drink or Not To Drink: How Water Treatment Plants Can Pose a Public Safety Issue

From residential homes to commercial businesses, municipal water systems are the lifeblood of a community. But as the recent water crisis in Richmond shows, operational failures at central treatment plants can compromise the entire distribution network. When a system’s pressure drops or protocols are not followed, contaminants can enter the water supply, posing immediate health risks and disrupting daily life for thousands of residents.

That’s why implementing all-encompassing solutions like TotalPure Pro® offer a more strategic layer of protection, filtering water before it ever reaches a building's faucets.

Introducing TotalPure Pro®: Whole-Facility Water Protection

TotalPure Pro® is a powerful point-of-entry ultrafiltration system designed to protect all water outlets within a building or facility. Whether installed at a hospital, school, or commercial complex, it ensures high-quality, bacteria-reduced water is available system-wide, even during a city-wide advisory.

Key technical advantages include:

• Integrated Multi-Stage Filtration: Utilizes a 0.08 µm hollow-fiber membrane and antimicrobial design to remove bacteria, including Legionella, E. coli, Salmonella, and some viruses.

• Tested and Ready for Performance: in compliance with IAPMO, while meeting European safety standards like the EU Drinking Water Directive as well.

• High Flow Rate Design: Engineered for large-scale facilities and tested to support up to 150,000 liters (40,000 gallons), ensuring continuous water flow with minimal pressure drop.

• No Chemicals Required: Avoids chemical taste and residues; ideal for public environments where water is used for drinking, cooking, and sanitation.

• Simple Maintenance: The filter's design allows for replacement in just 5 seconds with no need to dismantle the unit, making for a smooth and efficient process

Multi-Stage Filtration Includes:

• Activated Carbon Block – Reduces chlorine, chemicals, unpleasant tastes, and odors

• Sediment Filter – Removes large particles like sand, silt, and rust

• Polyphosphate Cartridge – Inhibits scale formation, prevents corrosion, and offers iron control

• Hollow Fiber Membrane (0.08 μm) – Provides Log 8 (99.999999%) reduction of waterborne pathogens for superior microbial protection

How AquaGuard Pro® Would Work During a City-Wide Water Advisory

Installed at the point where municipal water enters a building, TotalPure Pro® filters all incoming water before it is distributed to faucets, washrooms, kitchens, or drinking fountains. This significantly reduces microbial and chemical risks, not just at one point of use, but across an entire facility.

For building managers and business owners, this eliminates the risk of a city-wide water issue compromising operations and safety. The system is built for scalable deployment, meaning it can serve a small office or a critical-care hospital with equal reliability.

Unlike relying solely on emergency bottled water or advising customers to boil water, TotalPure Pro® offers constant protection, a critical advantage for facilities that must remain operational and safe even when public infrastructure fails.

Better Infrastructure Means Better Protection

As the Richmond case shows, relying solely on a single point of failure in a municipal system isn’t always enough. With TotalPure Pro®, facilities can reduce dependence on emergency protocols and potential shutdowns by building water safety into the very foundation of their operations.

To learn how TotalPure Pro® can be implemented at your venue, facility, or event, visit www.mwt-nl.com or contact the Mentor Water Technologies team for a technical consultation.