Fire runoff not an issue for Oxford water supply

Oxford water users are not affected by runoff from a fire last week at a South Hill, Virginia, chemical storage facility, officials said.

About a week ago, a water quality notice was released by the Virginia Department of Health in regard to water contamination, specifically recreational water and fish consumption along Virginia-North Carolina border water borders. That notice stated that the specific border waters affected were the Meherrin and Roanoke rivers, which both pass through the border.

A warning was sent out to the residents of Warren, Northampton, and Halifax counties in North Carolina, as these counties have been directly affected. The cause of the contamination was a fire that occurred July 6 at a chemical storage facility in South Hill.

Health officials said water runoff from the extinguished fire polluted the local Dockery and Mountain creeks, which then flowed downstream to the Meherrin and Roanoke rivers. Those rivers continue into North Carolina.

It was suggested by health officials that people in the affected areas stay away from recreational water activities as well as limit fish consumption from  affected waters.

As the city of Oxford in North Carolina gets its water from Kerr Lake which is located at the border, specifically the Kerr Lake Water Treatment Plant, some local residents might be wondering if Oxford water is affected. But officials have clarified that the water in the city of Oxford is not affected, and the warning only applies to the Meherrin and Roanoke rivers and the counties of Warren, Northampton, and Halifax.

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