Raw sewage leak near Lynchburg Expressway sealed; damage assessment underway
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WSET) — The raw sewage leak near the Lynchburg Expressway has been stopped, but officials are still working to determine the environmental and public health impacts.
Lynchburg Water Resources says crews sealed the break Monday night using temporary bypass piping after a fallen tree collapsed a sewer manhole near Liggate Road.
The fix came over 24 hours after crews began work at the site on Sunday night.
A report filed with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality says the spill released wastewater into Fishing Creek, and they're looking into any effects currently.
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The spill was first discovered Sunday after Lynchburg resident Olivia Dodson noticed thick foam and black sludge while picking up trash along Fishing Creek.
"It was gross," Dodson said. "What if people further downstream were in it and the bubbles had dissipated?"
Her report led city crews to the collapsed manhole, where they traced the source of the wastewater leak.
Neighbors who live along the creek say they're concerned about sewage damage. A resident along Fishing Creek, Mark Krup, says he hopes the city can quickly restore the area and minimize any lasting impacts.
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ABC13 reached out to the Virginia Department of Health Office of Drinking Water, asking about the condition of Fishing Creek.
The Office of Drinking Water says the incident poses minimal risk to drinking water, citing that there are no waterworks intakes within 30 miles of the location. At this time, the office says they do not have any public health concerns related to drinking water.
The Department of Environmental Quality says they are still processing reports from the damage and assessing waterways.
"We certainly don't advise people to go into the Fishing Creek at the moment," says Jason Snyder with Lynchburg Water Resources. "But any health advisory or anything like that would be issued by the health department."