Latest news with #DEQ
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
With sewage spill ‘fully contained,' Hopewell focuses on fixing problem that caused it
Authorities in Hopewell say the major spillage of 1.38 million gallons of raw sewage into the James River July 12 has been 'fully contained' and the electrical issue that they believe caused it has been fixed. A statement from city spokesperson Ginger Holland said Hopewell Water Renewal personnel 'successfully restored full operational capacity' to the plant on Hummel Ross Road in east Hopewell late Saturday afternoon . Working with a third-party contractor, HWR staff was able to repair the faulty wiring that led to the power failure and ultimately the spill. A permanent repair is still scheduled for July 18. Shortly before midnight Friday, July 11, authorities said the headworks where sewage enters the plant to be treated malfunctioned, causing the sewage to overflow into Gravely Run Creek, which feeds into the James River. The Virginia Department of Health estimated that between 50,000-100,000 gallons of raw sewage escaped the plant per hour. 'The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been notified that the situation is fully contained and all systems are functioning properly,' Holland said in the statement. 'There has been no disruption to residential sewer service, and the drinking water supply remains safe.' Even though the water was deemed safe to drink, VDH issued a recreational advisory for Gravely Run Creek and both sides of the James River from City Point down to Berkeley Plantation in Charles City County. That means people should avoid swimming, wading and paddle-boating in the water. VDH said the advisory remains in effect until further notice. For questions or additional information about water concerns, contact Hopewell Water Renewal at (804) 541-2210. This is a developing story. This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Hopewell says sewage spill contained, power back on at treatment plant
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Harmful algae blooms pop up in Utah Lake, Zion National Park
PROVO, Utah () — As we head into the summer months, Utahns will be getting out to enjoy the several bodies of water and reservoirs the Beehive State has to offer. But with warmer temperatures and abundant sunlight comes the risk of harmful algae blooms growing on the water. The Utah Department of Environmental Quality has about harmful algae in Utah's water, particularly on Utah Lake and in Zion National Park. Harmful algae have reportedly been found in the middle of Provo Bay at Utah Lake, prompting officials to warn residents not to drink the water. Residents are also advised not to swim, paddle or water ski in areas of algae and to keep dogs and other pets away from the blooms. It is OK to fish in the water, but be sure to throw away any skin and guts. The North Creek and Virgin River areas in Zion National Park have also seen an increased bloom of harmful algae, according to the Utah DEQ. 'Avoid touching or disturbing algae mats. Avoid primary contact recreation (swimming and submerging the head) when recreating in [these areas],' the DEQ warns. 'Do not drink in-stream water anywhere in the park. If you must filter water, do so directly from a spring source.' Also known as blue-green algae, the Utah Department of Environmental Quality said the blooms are not actually algae at all. It is an aquatic bacterium known as Cyanobacteria that photosynthesizes like a plant. The DEQ said these harmful blooms occur naturally in bodies of water all over the world, particularly when nutrient levels are high, there is abundant sunlight, warm temperatures and stagnant waters. If the conditions are right for several days or even months, cyanobacteria can multiply and form large blooms that can cover an entire lake. Blooms generally die and disappear after about a week or two, according to the DEQ, but toxins can linger for days after a bloom dissipates. Harmful algal blooms can cause irritations and illnesses if you come into contact with them. In the worst cases, harmful blooms have been known to cause permanent organ damage or even death. Humans and pets that come into contact with harmful algal blooms can experience irritation of the skin, eyes, nose, throat and respiratory systems. Accidental ingestion of harmful algae can lead to abdominal pain, headaches, vomiting, diarrhea, kidney or liver damage and neurological symptoms. If your pet has been exposed to harmful algal blooms, the DEQ advises looking for symptoms such as excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, stumbling or muscle tremors, loss of appetite, rashes, difficulty breathing and in serious cases, seizures or paralysis. DEQ said if you or your pet comes into contact with a harmful algal bloom, rinse off with clean fresh water as soon as possible and remove yourself from the source. You are also encouraged to call the Utah Poison Control Center at 800-222-1222, as experts trained in toxicology can answer any questions and advise you on medical or veterinary treatment. To stay up to date on the latest reports of harmful algal blooms in Utah's bodies of water, visit the Thune threatens to nix July 4 recess to finish work on Trump's 'big, beautiful bill' EXCLUSIVE: Utah man who underwent 120 surgeries advocates for rare disease awareness in Washington, D.C. Motorcylist seriously injured in crash near major I-15 exit in Salt Lake City Harmful algae blooms pop up in Utah Lake, Zion National Park – what to know Speaker Johnson to address Israeli Knesset Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Officials monitoring toxic algae blooms at Zion National Park
WASHINGTON COUNTY, Utah () — Officials at Zion National Park are monitoring toxic algae blooms in water bodies throughout the park. Officials say they are observing the Virgin River and streams for toxic Officials are asking visitors to not drink stream water anywhere in the park. Instead, they are asking visitors to carry water or filter directly from a spring. North Fork of the Virgin River and North Creek is under a 'warning' advisory, which means there is potential for short-term effects like rash, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or long-term illness. Popular areas that come under this advisory include The Narrows, Pine Creek, Deep Creak and Emerald Pools. La Verkin Creek, Timber Creek and Hop Valley Creek are under a 'health watch' advisory which indicates evidence that a bloom may exist or become more severe. , during 'Health Watch' and 'Warning' advisory levels, officials recommend against swimming or submerging your head in the water. During 'Danger' advisory levels, recreators should consider avoiding all contact with the water. Over 100 conservation organizations urge US Senate to stop sale of public lands also known as 'blue green algae', are photosynthetic bacteria found in lakes, reservoirs, rivers, streams, and other bodies of water in many places throughout the world. When people are exposed to cyanotoxins, they can experience a range of symptoms that include a mild skin rash, serious illness, or in rare circumstances, death. If you are unsure of how to identify a harmful algal bloom, the showing the different types of blooms. Exposure to harmful algae blooms can lead to skin irritation, gastrointestinal illness, and sometimes death, the DEQ said. If you come into contact with a harmful algal bloom, you should remove yourself from the 'source of exposure' and call the Utah Poison Control Center at (800) 222-1222. Officials monitoring toxic algae blooms at Zion National Park Mark Green to resign from House after final vote on 'big, beautiful bill' Paddleboarders rescued along San Rafael River over the weekend RFK Jr. fires CDC's independent vaccine advisors Hundreds of Marines mobilizing to Los Angeles Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Arkansas legislative committee reviews, advances water quality standards
DEQ Director Bailey Taylor (left) and the division's chief legal counsel, Kesia Morrison, address the Joint Public Health Committee on June 4, 2025. (Ainsley Platt/Arkansas Advocate) The Joint Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee on Wednesday reviewed amendments to Arkansas' surface water quality standards rule, which is part of the state's enforcement of the federal Clean Water Act. As part of the Clean Water Act, the state is required to review — and if necessary, revise — the standards every three years. The rule, currently called Rule 2, was pulled from last month's committee agenda to give lawmakers more time to review the changes, which include the addition of five new health-based water quality standards for benzene, methylbenzene, xylene, toluene and phenol. The rule also amends existing criteria for ammonia and cadmium, which haven't been updated in decades, to bring them in line with revisions made by the Environmental Protection Agency within the last 15 years. Rule 2 standards apply to surface waters — such as rivers, creeks, lakes and wetlands — not to drinking water, which is governed by a separate federal law, the Safe Drinking Water Act. While the Division of Environmental Quality oversees Arkansas' enforcement of the CWA, the Arkansas Department of Health enforces the SDWA in the state. 'It's not a blanket effluent limit,' DEQ Director Bailey Taylor told committee members. The standards are for the 'ambient' water quality, and permit limits for facilities like wastewater treatment plants and industrial plants that discharge waste into surface waters are backcalculated from the standards, she said. Under the revised rule, the 'primary contact season,' the period during which people are most likely to be recreating in the water by swimming, fishing or boating, would be extended by two months so it would now fall from April to October. Pressed by Greenwood Republican Rep. Lee Johnson for an explanation for the change, Taylor said standards during the primary contact season are tighter for some measures than outside of it to account for greater human contact with the water. Taylor singled out bacteria standards as one example. She said the change was made to account for water recreation that's been happening in April and October. Johnson said it was 'interesting' that the division was moving to make the change now, and asked if DEQ believed Arkansans were swimming more in 2025 than they were in 2020 or in the 1980s. 'I just wonder why we're deciding now to change the recreational season when it's been in effect for a long time,' Johnson said. Taylor said the division was trying to account for recreation that was happening outside of the traditional May to September season. Johnson countered by asking if DEQ had collected any data showing that more people were engaging in water recreation during the extended months. Taylor said the decision was based on 'anecdotal stakeholder engagement.' The rule will next be considered by the Arkansas Legislative Council's Administrative Rules Subcommittee. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate Agriculture committee considers Wilson for DEQ secretary
North Carolina Legislative Building (Photo: Galen Bacharier/NC Newsline) The North Carolina Senate Agriculture, Energy, and Environment Committee reviewed Reid Wilson's appointment as secretary of the Department of Environmental Quality during its hearing on Wednesday. The hearing was billed as 'discussion only.' Lawmakers will take a vote at their next meeting. Wilson formerly served as secretary for the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources from 2021 to 2024. Before that, he was DNCR's chief deputy secretary from 2017 to 2020. Following his appointment earlier this year by Gov. Josh Stein, he's been serving as DEQ secretary on an interim basis while awaiting confirmation. At the national level, Congress has been working on a federal budget that would include cuts to some of the areas under DEQ's purview. Sen. Jay Chaudhuri (D-Wake) asked what the cuts would mean to DEQ and how Wilson would respond. About half of DEQ's budget comes from federal sources, Wilson said. In particular, the proposed budget would remove $31.5 million from operating grants. 'We would have to let a whole lot of people go, and the consequences of that are that our permitting processes would take longer, our responses to spills and other problems would take longer, our responsiveness and assistance to businesses would not be as strong,' Wilson said. 'Everything we do, we would do less well.' Chaudhuri jokingly followed up with, 'Do you still want this job?' Wilson answered in the affirmative. Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett, Lee, Sampson) asked about water quality, specifically microplastics. Wilson said DEQ staff are looking into the issue, and the department also collaborates with others like university researchers to learn more. 'Water quality is a huge priority,' he said. 'It is a significant health concern, so we're gonna' be involved with that.' After Hurricane Helene swept through the western portion of the state, DEQ worked closely with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide mobile programs testing the quality of drinking wells. Wilson said the agencies found out how polluted the drinking water was, how to get it cleaned, and tested it to make sure it was healthy before people drank it again. 'For folks with a well in the yard or on their property, they're more vulnerable, so we want to make sure we are doing as much testing,' Wilson said. 'We have a [fund] which helps pay for additional private well tests around the state when we determine that that is needed.' Lawmakers also voted to approve two pieces of legislation at Tuesday's meeting, which they discussed yesterday: House Bill 247 ('8-1-1 Amendments') and House Bill 694 ('Study Water/Wastewater Regionalization'). The former heads to the Senate Judiciary Committee and the latter proceeds to the Senate Rules Committee.
