В Портсмуте завершают ремонт канализации после разлива 3,2 млн галлонов сточных вод

PORTSMOUTH — Clean up and restoration efforts are underway near Portsmouth’s Hull Creek a week after a sewer main break spilled more than 3 million gallons of wastewater into the area. A 30-inch sewer main broke around 6 p.m. Aug. 4 on Douglas Avenue near the intersection with Rolfe Terrace in Portsmouth. An estimated 3.2 million gallons of wastewater spilled near the Port Norfolk area, according to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Crews could be seen making repairs and assessments along the pungent Douglas Avenue Tuesday afternoon, flanked by equipment like construction cones and excavation machines in the tidal marsh area. Health officials recommend avoiding contact with the surrounding waterway until clean-up and restoration is completed. The advisory covers the Hull Creek area throughout Western Branch of the Elizabeth River. The sewage line break occurred the same day a heavy downpour dropped as much as 6 inches of rain in a few hours, flooding parts of the region. Hampton Roads Sanitation District discovered a large hole in the top of the 1940s-era concrete pipe. Hours after failure of the pressurized sewer pipe, HRSD began clean-up efforts, which involved round-the-clock pumping and hauling of sewage from 30 trucks. HRSD crews were able to stop the flow of the sewage by early morning Aug. 5. Two sections of concrete sewer pipe needed to be replaced with PVC pipe. Vacuum trucks were used for standing liquids. Ultimately, 5,000 gallons of the wastewater were recovered and sent back to a wastewater treatment plant. Other equipment was used to remove grit and debris that washed out of the sewer main. The sewer line was turned back on Aug. 7. On Monday, however, another crack was discovered in a concrete pipe connected to the replacement, according to VDEQ, but seepage from that pipe was contained with no overflow. On Tuesday, HRSD installed a repair clamp, eliminating the slow leak. The Portsmouth Health Department continues to recommend avoiding contact with water in the advisory area or promptly washing skin with soap and water, and cleaning any items like paddles, life vests or ropes that come in contact with it. If consuming fish or crabs harvested from the affected area, the health department advises to discard skin, organs, and to fully cook the meat. Douglas Avenue has been closed between Wesley Street and Rolfe Terrace. Access to Bruce Place is being managed by on-site HRSD staff. Crews also added topsoil and are working directly with some residents to collect samples that will help determine what other remediation efforts are necessary. The use of lime — the same ground limestone used to increase soil pH levels in lawns — helps kill pathogens and reduce odor. No health impacts are expected from the lime, but pets and people are advised to wash any affected areas with soap and water if they make contact. “The force main has been repaired and roadway restoration restoration efforts are what you’re seeing in the roadway right now,” said HRSD chief communications officer Leila Rice. “There will not be final paving for a couple of weeks because (crews) did see a significant amount of water and they want to make sure everything’s OK before they put that final layer of asphalt down. But it will be drivable in a few days.” Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, [email protected]