Portion of water advisory lifted in South Hill area after fire

MECKLENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Nearly two weeks after a fire at a warehouse storing herbicides and fertilizer caused a significant amount of chemicals to be sent into local waterways around the town of South Hill, part of the water advisory in the area has been lifted.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, the recreational water and fish consumption advisories have been lifted for the section of the Meherrin River which goes from Union Mill Road southeast through the Town of Lawrenceville and City of Emporia to the North Carolina state line.

According to the department, the advisory is being lifted in this area because recent rainfall has diluted the chemicals to the point where they no longer pose a health risk.

The advisories are still in place for the headwaters of Mountain Creek from South Hill to the Meherrin River at Union Mill Road, as well as the headwaters of Dockery Creek to its confluence with the Roanoke River and parts of Lake Gaston.

The department is asking residents and visitors to not take part in any swimming, wading, tubing, canoeing, kayaking, or boating in the affected waterways, and to not eat any fish caught since Saturday, July 6, until further notice.

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