Waterway activities on hold after spill
Chesapeake health officials plan to wait for leaked waste to dissipate
After a tugboat accident led to 2.5 million gallons of wastewater being leaked into a branch of the Elizabeth River in Chesapeake last Friday, health officials say all there is to do is wait.
At least when it comes to recreational activities on the water.
The leak caused levels of the bacteria enterococcus at two sampling sites in the advisory area to increase by as much as 2,200% by Tuesday, according to data provided by Hampton Roads Sanitation District, though samples from other sites have shown a vast reduction in the levels of wastewater over that time.
“Because of the volume and because it’s going directly into the waterway, there’s no real way that we’d be able to clean the water necessarily,” said Julie Laferriere, water compliance manager for the Tidewater office of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. “What we’re looking to do is let it naturally attenuate, which means wind, wave, rain, tide action — anything that would allow that water to dissipate in the water column, that’s what we’re hoping for and what we’re monitoring for, waiting to see those bacterial numbers drop.”
Health officials have been testing for enterococcus, fecal coliform and HF183, though enterococcus is the best indicator of contamination by human waste matter, according to Cynthia Jackson, environmental health manager for the Chesapeake Health Department. As of Thursday afternoon, the department has not determined what level of wastewater would be safe enough to lift the health advisory for the area.
The leak occurred as rowers practiced with the Great Bridge Crew Club, which has practiced on
this stretch of water for years and whose boathouse is a few thousand feet from the damage, according to club president Meredith Hodge. Hodge said the club, which includes students from Great Bridge, Grassfield and Hickory high schools, were on the water as crews were working to stop the flow of wastewater Friday afternoon — but no one informed them about the risk of being in the water.
The rowers returned to practice Saturday and still had not been told of any risks, Hodge said. It wasn’t until they read a news article Saturday evening that they learned of the leak. Hodge has since barred the students from getting on the water until the Chesapeake Health Department lifts the health advisory.
None of the rowers has reported any skin irritation, illness or gastrointestinal
issues.
“We pride ourselves on being competitive but if we’re not able to get out and row because a negligent tug, who should know not to have their anchor dropped, ruptures an underwater sewage line — it’s just really been a crappy week,” Hodge said, pun not intended.