• HRSD successfully installed a repair clamp on the concrete pipe that was cracked and leaking; this has eliminated the slow sewage leak 
• Restoration work continues

• On the morning of Monday, August 10, HRSD noticed a seep about 20 feet south of the repair location
• HRSD excavated the site of the seep to determine the source of the seep
• HRSD discovered a crack in the concrete pipe that the replacement pipes connected to
• HRSD plans to repair this crack over the next few days
• The leaking sewage is contained - there is no overflow
• This additional repair will delay site restoration

• HRSD completed repairs to the sewer line and is in the process of testing the sewer line — this involves bringing Portsmouth pump stations back online

• HRSD anticipates returning the sewer line to full service today
• The sewage pump and haul operations will cease once the line is back in service  
• There have been no further releases of sewage since the original release
• HRSD has completed as much of the Hull Creek cleanup as possible from the land
• HRSD will be completing site restoration work over the next two weeks; work will be during daylight hours
• Douglas Ave is targeted to reopen by the end of the day Monday, August 10 
• Repaving of Douglas Ave will not occur for a least two weeks due to the extent of construction activities 

Removal of a section of old sewer pipe 

• HRSD successfully dewatered the sewer line by approximately 9 p.m. on August 5
• From the sewer line failure location, HRSD conducted a camera inspection in both directions; results of the inspection indicated that two sections of sewer pipe need to be replaced
• HRSD is in the process of replacing those two sections with PVC sewer pipe
• Once the new lengths of PVC sewer pipe are installed (late today or early tomorrow), HRSD will refill the sewer line and conduct a pressure test before returning the line to normal service
• HRSD has a long-reach excavator removing grit/sediment from the tidal marsh area that was impacted by the spill; once grit removal is complete, HRSD will restore the impacted grassy area 

• Pumping and hauling of sewage is ongoing and will continue until repairs are complete and the sewer line is returned to service
• VDH is posting recreation advisory signs at public access points around the advisory area 

• At approximately 6 p.m. on August 4, the City of Portsmouth notified the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) of the force main failure on Douglas Ave in the vicinity of Rolfe Terrace (see below)
• Sewage could not be diverted to other parts of HRSD's sewage collection system, so HRSD initiated round-the-clock pumping and hauling of sewage which is involving 30 trucks
• HRSD issued a media advisory at about 9:45 p.m., and HRSD began notifying nearby residents by going door to door
• HRSD was able to stop the flow of sewage by about 5 a.m. this morning
• HRSD pumping out the sewer main failure location and has dug down to expose the sewer main where they found a large hole in the top of the concrete pipe
• Utilities are being marked so that HRSD can excavate and expose more of the pipe and prepare for repairs
• HRSD plans to camera the sewer main in both directions to assess the condition of the sewer pipe prior to repairs; before they can do this, they have to pump out the remaining sewage in the affected section of pipe
• HRSD cleanup efforts started last night and continue this morning – vacuum trucks are being used to vacuum up any standing liquids and lime is being applied to impacted areas 
• HRSD is bringing in heavy-duty mats to allow for equipment access to a tidal marshy area so they can recover grit that washed out of the sewer main
• Douglas Avenue is closed between Wesley Street and Rolfe Terrace; access to Bruce Place is being managed by on-site HRSD staff
• Out of an abundance of caution and due to the anticipated timeline for repairs, the Portsmouth Health Department is issuing a recreational water advisory    
• Residents and their pets should avoid the spill area for the time being
• The estimated amount of sewage released is 3,150,000 gallons

The Portsmouth Health Department is aware of the sewage spill impacting Hull Creek and portions of the Elizabeth River and continues to monitor the situation.  

The application of lime to areas impacted by the sewage spill is standard procedure — lime is applied to kill pathogens and reduce odor. This lime is the same type used in lawn management to increase soil pH. No health impacts are expected from the use of lime in this instance. Residents and pets should avoid contact. If you should come into contact with the lime, wash the affected area with soap and water.

Recreational activities in natural bodies of water, such as swimming and boating, always pose some level of health risk because streams, rivers, and oceans are not disinfected, and it is reasonable to expect that some level of pathogens could be present. Following a sewage release, however, that risk may be elevated.

To prevent illness following sewage release events, people should:

• 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 the proper temperature, and clean cutting boards and cutting implements with warm soapy water.    

For more information, contact the Portsmouth Health Department.