Sewage spill update

Doug Fawcett, Fredericksburg’s director of public works, says there has been no overflow into the river since the pump station at Caroline and Ford streets malfunctioned last Tuesday night, dumping a “significant” amount of raw sewage into the Rappahannock over nearly a 24-hour period.  A main pump at the station, one of eight in the city, and a backup failed. Fawcett says water samples taken on Friday and Saturday were analyzed and that, based on those results, more testing was warranted. Meanwhile, signs have been posted at City Dock, advising people to have no contact with the water in the vicinity of the landing until testing is completed.  Additional tests were done this morning; those results should be available tomorrow.  When those results are in, he says, the advisory at City Dock will either will be extended, or the signs will be taken down.  There is still no word on how much sewage spilled into the river.  The spill was reported to the state Department of Environmental Quality.  See my story today here.

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