NORFOLK, VA – The City of Norfolk, Virginia Department of Health (VDH), Norfolk Department of Public Health (NDPH) and Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) documented and responded to a sewage spill at Knitting Mill Creek.
Norfolk’s Department of Public Works – Storm Water Environmental Division notified DEQ on September 1 after a City inspector found a smell and cloudy water in the creek. DEQ documented and informed the owners of Mack’s Barge of a sewage discharge into the creek and issued a Request for Corrective Action. City inspectors and NDPH issued Notices of Violation upon discovery of discharge.
NDPH observed a plumber, hired by Mack’s Barge, making corrections on September 1. Follow-up site visits, which included Norfolk’s Department of Utilities, were conducted on September 2 and September 6 with DEQ confirming that no new discharge was occurring.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) worked with a wildlife rehabilitator to collect wildlife carcasses from the area for testing at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study in Athens, Georgia. Test results are pending. Residents can report sick or dead wildlife to DWR online here.
For additional sewage concerns, residents can contact:
- City of Norfolk: (757) 823-1000
- NDPH, Environmental Health: (757) 683-2712
- DEQ: (804) 674-2400