PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Junly 17, 2024
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tom Dunlap, James Riverkeeper, James River Association
tdunlap@thejamesriver.org
RE: VDH Issues Recreational Water Advisory for the James River at Manchester Bridge (9th Street to Osborne Landing) Due to Sewage Release
On Wednesday, July 17th, the Virginia Department of Health and the Richmond Dept. of Public Utilities issued a joint press release regarding unsafe river conditions in the James as a result of a sewage release that began on July 16th and is ongoing near the Pipeline park area, in Richmond, VA. Public access closures and recreational water advisories have been put in place at multiple locations along the James River down to Osborne Landing, including the 14th Street takeout, which is a location that we sample weekly for our James River Watch program.
Last weekend, the James River Watch program reported several locations with unsafe bacteria levels in Richmond prior to the sewage leak. These results were most likely caused by combined sewer overflows due to the large amount of rain that fell in Richmond, exceeding its sewer system’s capacity. In response to the public concern and news reports of these unsafe bacteria levels reported by JRA’s James River Watch program last week for several locations in the Richmond area, JRA staff collected additional water samples at five Richmond sites on the morning of July 16th. Analysis of these July 16th samples indicates that JRA’s monitoring locations upstream from this reported sewage leak, including public access points at Tredegar, Reedy Creek, and 42nd Street Park, were all below the VDH thresholds for health advisories, suggesting these James River accesses are safe for normal recreational use. Our two other monitoring stations, those at the 14th Street takeout and at Rocketts Landing, both of which are downstream of the sewage leak, had results indicating unsafe river conditions for recreation. The data for these monitoring sites is available on our website: https://jamesriver.shinyapps.io/Riverwatch/.
These high levels of E. coli found at the 14th Street James River access and at Rocketts Landing Marina do not appear to be related to combined sewer overflows from last week, which resulted from precipitation caused stormwater that exceeded the capacity of Richmond’s combined sewer system infrastructure. Whereas, after a rainfall driven sewer overflow, conditions can return to normal within days, this sewage leak is expected to create unsafe conditions for swimmers and recreators until repairs can be completed and water testing shows safe conditions again.
“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. “We appreciate VDH and Richmond DPU issuing their advisory and press release to keep river users safe. We also encourage anyone interested in safe use of the James River to utilize our James River Watch website for weekly updates during the summer.”
JRA’s water quality monitoring data shows that during the majority of the recreational season, it is safe to swim in the James River. Last year our Richmond monitoring sites were below VDH thresholds (safe for recreational use) 84% of the season. The next update for James River Watch water quality sampling will be on July 19th.
Still image of the James River Watch website, zoomed in on five of the monitoring stations in the Richmond area. From JRA’s July 16th water samples, monitoring sites that exceeded VDH’s threshold for recreational use are displayed in red, and sites displayed in green should be considered safe for normal use. The Manchester Bridge, the beginning of VDH’s recreational advisory, is labeled in black. The impacted portion of the James River, extending eastward to Osborne Landing (not shown) is highlighted in purple.
ABOUT JAMES RIVER ASSOCIATION: The James River Association is a member-supported nonprofit organization founded in 1976 to serve as a guardian and voice for the James River. Throughout the James River’s 10,000 square mile watershed, the James River Association works toward its vision of a fully healthy James River supporting thriving communities. The James River Association believes that “when you change the James, the James changes you”. With offices in Lynchburg, Richmond, Williamsburg, and Scottsville, the James River Association is committed to protecting the James River and connecting people to it. For more information visit www.thejamesriver.org.