Although a petroleum odor is still noticeable in the water and neither the Rapidan Service Authority nor the Virginia Department of Health have determined the cause of the water contamination, the two agencies announced shortly after 10 p.m. Saturday that the water meets federal and state standards.

On Wednesday, the Rapidan Service Authority said it had found hydrocarbons in the water at its Wilderness Water Treatment Plant, which serves eastern Orange County. Hydrocarbons are a broad category of organic compounds found in crude oil, natural gas and coal. Consumption of hydrocarbons can cause upset stomach, stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Tests conducted Wednesday found that the hydrocarbons in the water were not volatile organic compounds (VOCs), a broad category that includes chemicals found in thousands of products, such as solvents, aerosols, flame retardants and formaldehyde.

Further tests did not produce a clear result.

Meanwhile, the Rapidan Service Authority has been flushing the Wilderness Water Treatment Plant, which serves the communities of Lake of the Woods, Locust Grove, Wilderness Shores, Somerset Farms, Edgewood, Germanna Heights and Twin Lakes, as well as the Virginia Route 3 corridor. The authority has reported that the petroleum odor that workers noticed earlier in the week is subsiding but has not yet disappeared.

The recommendation not to drink the beverage was issued “out of an abundance of caution until the odor of concern is mitigated to a higher level,” according to the Virginia Department of Health. The goal, health department officials said, is to lift the advisory once the odor is eliminated or reduced and ongoing laboratory testing shows no public health impact.

Residents are now allowed to use the water for bathing, flushing the toilet, washing clothes and other purposes, provided that no water is wasted. Parents are asked to closely supervise their children while bathing to avoid choking. Tap water should not be used for drinking, preparing drinks or food, washing dishes, cleaning surfaces that come into contact with food, making ice or coffee or brushing teeth.

As a result, all restaurants in eastern Orange County must remain closed until the warning is lifted.

A bathing warning also applies to the Rapidan River from the Virginia Route 3 boat launch to the Route 610 boat launch.

Faucets that emit a noticeable odor should be flushed, according to the Rapidan Service Authority and the Virginia Department of Health. Flushing instructions can be found at www.rapidan.org. Residents are encouraged to record how long faucets take to flush and how many faucets in their home need to be flushed and report it to the Rapidan Service Authority during normal business hours. The authority asks customers not to drastically increase their water usage to avoid putting a strain on the sewer system.

Bottled and bulk water will be distributed at locations throughout Orange County, including at the Lake of the Woods Clubhouse and Locust Grove Middle School from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. Bulk water distributions require people to bring their own containers with sealed lids. Although the water comes from a potable source, boiling it before cooking or drinking is recommended. Bottled water is available at Locust Grove Middle School.

More information will be available online at rapidan.org.