Henrico County has approved a plan to build a 13-mile, $300 million water main that would pump drinking water from the county’s West End water treatment plant to East End residents.

If Richmond’s water system were to fail — as it did in January’s water crisis — the new pipe would serve as a backup.

The Henrico County Board of Supervisors approved the project this week, and it approved a plan to issue $125 million worth of bonds that will pay for some of the design and installation.

“This is a great day in Henrico,” said Roscoe Cooper, who represents the Fairfield District. “It just shows that when we are faced with complex issues and problems, we find solutions.”

Henrico does not plan to stop buying water from the city, said Bentley Chan, the county’s director of public utilities. Th

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