Quote Quoting IrishRover716
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Does this rise to the level of negligence on the part of the city, and what recourse, if any, do we have to seek compensation?
Quote Quoting adjusterjack
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Yes, it's negligence. Mistakes get made because somebody was negligent.
While not all mistakes rise to the level of actionable negligence, mistakes do often reflect negligence -- and it's difficult to believe that there was no act, along the way, that could be categorized as negligence. But with this being a municipal water service, there is also the possibility that any liability is cut off by principles of governmental immunity. Although a full analysis should be made by a Virginia lawyer, as immunity issues can be complex, I suspect that water service would be regarded by Virginia's courts as being for the public good, without a goal of special or pecuniary profit, such that governmental immunity would attach to negligence in the provision of that service.

The municipal utility may be willing to offer some form of credit or compensation. You won't know until you ask. But I am skeptical that this matter can successfully be taken to court.