‘People need to be informed’: Recreational water advisory issued for parts of James River due to sewage leak

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A recreational water advisory has been issued for sections of the James River in the Richmond area following the discovery of a sewage leak near Pipeline Park.

The leak, initially reported on Tuesday, July 16, has prompted officials to caution against all water activities, including swimming, tubing and kayaking, until further notice.

According to the Virginia Department of Health and local authorities, the affected area stretches from the Manchester Bridge in Richmond to Osborne Landing in Henrico County. The advisory comes just days after elevated levels of E. coli bacteria were found in the river, exacerbated by recent heavy rainfall.

Malik Tyler is visiting Richmond and told 8News he’d only been in the James a few times. He expressed concern after learning about the advisory after he’d already spent time in the water.

“I feel a little worried — you know, I don’t want to get sick,” Tyler said. “It makes me feel unsafe, wary.”

The James River Association has confirmed that bacteria levels in the affected area exceed safe limits recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by more than tenfold.

“When bacteria contamination makes the river unsafe for recreation, it is critical that the public and river-based businesses have timely information,” said Tom Dunlap, James Riverkeeper for the James River Association.

Despite these findings, the association clarified that the sewage leak and the heightened E. coli levels appear unrelated.

A spokesperson for Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) told 8News that the leak was caused by the bypass pump failing, which pumps sewage around the damaged part of the pipeline.

Gary Fogel, a longtime Richmond resident and avid James River enthusiast, voiced frustration over the lack of awareness among rivergoers.

“I didn’t even know about it,” Fogel said. “So, I’m pretty sure these guys didn’t know about it, I’m pretty sure these people over here didn’t know about it. But they need to be informed.”

In response to the incident, the DPU announced immediate plans to shut down and repair the leaking sewage pipeline. DPU officials assured the public that measures would be taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

However, the assurance provided by DPU was insufficient for Tyler, who expressed reluctance to return to the river even after repairs are completed.

“No — never, no,” Tyler said when asked if he’d consider it.

The DPU expects repairs on the sewage pipe to commence within the next day, with ongoing testing by the Department of Environmental Quality to determine when the water will be safe for recreational use again.

Importantly, officials have confirmed that Richmond’s drinking water supply remains unaffected by the sewage release.

DPU said they are exploring long-term solutions to ensure something like this does not happen again, stating the pipeline is very old.

“The City is working with a contractor for both temporary and permanent repairs. The temporary repairs include installation of large inflatable plugs, isolation of the damaged line segment to prevent any additional flow, and the service of a welder to create a temporary patch to the impacted area of the pipe.”

City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities

Public access points to the James River in the impacted area include Great Shiplock Park and Chapel Island, Dock Street Park, Wharf Street/Intermediate Terminal, Ancarrow’s Landing and Osborne Landing.

The Virginia Department of Health said you can prevent recreational water illnesses during a sewage release by:

• Avoid contact with the bodies of water noted above and observe advisory signage posted at water access points.
• Avoid any area of the water where there is water with a foul odor, dead or dying fish, or discolored water.
• Promptly wash skin with soap and water if you cannot avoid contact with water in the vicinity.
• Seek medical care and notify your practitioner of the exposure if you experience adverse health effects after contact with the water.

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