The Virginia Department of Health has partially lifted its recreational water advisory for a portion of the Potomac River as repairs continue from January’s massive sewage spill.
The advisory, first issued Feb. 13, has now been lifted for a stretch of the river including Alexandria’s waterfront. The cleared area starts south at the Route 120 Chain Bridge and ends at the Governor Harry W. Nice Memorial Bridge in King George County, according to a VDH announcement this afternoon (Thursday).
According to VDH, Potomac water quality samples taken by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality on Feb. 17 and Feb. 25-27 “indicate bacteria concentrations … at levels acceptable for all recreational water use.”
“Swimming or other activities in any natural body of water always pose some health risk because the water is not disinfected,” VDH said. “Children under the age of five years, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of contracting illness from natural bodies of water.”
However, the advisory is still in place for a 4.7-mile stretch of the river upstream, as water quality samples taken by the Washington DC Department of Energy and Environment and DC Water “continue to show higher values of E. coli near the spill site,” VDH said.
Residents are asked to continue avoiding the river from the I-495 American Legion Bridge in Fairfax County to the Route 120 Chain Bridge.
No evidence of affects to drinking water have been observed, VDH said. Alexandria’s water is sourced from Fairfax Water, which uses the Occoquan Reservoir and a Potomac River intake site that is located several miles upstream of the sewage spill site.
In an announcement today, the Alexandria Health Department said it will continue monitoring local health data for any upticks in gastrointestinal illnesses related to contaminated water. Any forthcoming health updates will be shared with the community, AHD said.
The agency shared the following tips to prevent illnesses in areas where the advisory remains in place.
- Avoid contact with water in the advisory area and observe advisory signage posted at waterbody access points.
- Avoid any area of the water body where water has 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.
- Rinse or wash items that come into contact with the water, including clothing, fishing gear, life vests, ropes and paddles.
- Seek medical care and notify your practitioner of the waterbody exposure if you experience adverse health effects after contact with the waterbody.
- When harvesting fish or crabs, discard skin, organs, cook the meat to proper temperature, and clean cutting boards and cutting implements with warm soapy water.
Updates on spill-related repairs are available on DC Water’s website. VDH’s Potomac sewage spill site has more information on state impacts.
