‘Extensive damage’ to pipe in Elizabeth River
Full replacement needed after boat strike released wastewater
Divers attempting to repair a pipe that spilled 2.5 million gallons of wastewater into a branch of the Elizabeth River this month discovered “extensive damage” that will require a full replacement, according to the Hampton Roads Sanitation District.
An HRSD news release said the divers near the Great Bridge Lock in Chesapeake found a 7-foot break in the pipe, which appeared to have been crushed by a boat strike.
According to HRSD, divers were prepared to make small repairs that would not require a complete closure of the waterway. However, the damage discovered will require considerably more work, which could not have been completed Wednesday.
“HRSD staff are developing the work plan to replace the pipe,” the update read. “Until then, the valves to this force main will remain closed to prevent any additional sewage spills in the area.”
The March 10 strike compromised a 20-inch cast iron force main under the canal. Crews located and isolated the section of the pipe that was leaking and diverted wastewater flows. The resulting damage caused the wastewater to be released into a canal connecting the Elizabeth River and the Intracoastal Waterway.
On the day of the crash, the tugboat, known as “Miss Judy,” was moving a dredge owned by Norfolk Dredging through the canal on the Intracoastal Waterway. At about 1 p.m., the tugboat radioed the bridge operator that one of the dredge’s spuds — a large stake used as an anchor — was “stuck on something,” according to an incident report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Chesapeake city staff reported the damage to HRSD at 5:48 p.m. Friday, and crews diverted the flow away from the damaged pipe by 8 p.m.
Since the strike, health officials have continued testing the water for enterococcus, fecal coliform, and HF183, which is the most common RNA virus found in the feces of healthy individual. Data released by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality shows that levels for all three have decreased across all sites being tested. According to the VDEQ, swimming poses the highest risk due to the likelihood of ingestion and skin exposure to the impacted waterway. Fishing, boating, kayaking and flat-water canoeing are considered to be lower-risk activities. The public health advisory was planned to remain in effect until at least March 25.