Crooked Branch Contamination Investigation

From the Reedy Creek Coalition blog

During March and April of 2012, water quality monitors with the Reedy Creek Coalition (RCC) identified foul odors and elevated E. coli counts at a monitoring site on Crooked Branch, a tributary of Reedy Creek. The RCC notified the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Utilities (DPU) regarding their observations and the DPU Pretreatment Program began an investigation on April 25, 2012.

Environmental technicians with DPU’s Pretreatment Program took water samples from the outfall where Crooked Branch daylights at Crutchfield Street and submitted them to the Richmond Wastewater Treatment Plant laboratory for analysis. The technicians also noted a foul, sewage-like odor, and turbid water at the outfall.

The results of the samples were reported by the lab on April 30 and confirmed the findings of the RCC volunteers, indicating E. coli levels of 435 MPN (most probable number ) /100 mL (milliliters) and ammonia of 0.8 mg/L (milligrams per Litre). The investigating technicians returned to the site and began to trace the contamination upstream using a system map and a handheld YSI Professional Series meter with conductivity, pH (a measurement of acidity), ammonium, and DO (dissolved oxygen) probes.

Concentrations of ammonium were observed to be as high as 2.2 mg/L at a manhole near Midlothian Turnpike and a strong sewage odor was detected. The next accessible manhole was on Brandon Street, west of Belt Boulevard, where a strong sewage odor was noted but ammonium concentrations were found to be less than 1.0 mg/L.

The investigators then proceeded to open manholes on the sanitary sewer line adjacent to the storm sewer and discovered that the sanitary line appeared to be significantly blocked and sewage was backed up in the line. The investigators notified DPU Sewer Maintenance personnel regarding the backup and a crew was dispatched on May 1 to address the problem.

On May 3, the investigating technicians returned to the Crooked Branch outfall and noted that there were no foul odors detectable and that the water appeared to be much less turbid. Follow up sampling showed E. coli levels of 56 MPN/100 mL and ammonia concentrations of less than 0.1 mg/L at the outfall.

The correction of this issue means that significantly less bacteria and nutrients are now entering Reedy Creek through Crooked Branch. The success of this investigation also serves to highlight the benefits for water quality that can be achieved when the city and citizen groups work together to identify and address the problems facing our local waterways.

Written by:

John A. Allen,

Environmental Technician II

Richmond DPU

City Receives Grant for Bellemeade Creek Watershed

The city of Richmond and the Green Infrastructure Center (GIC) have been awarded $59,671 in grant funding in 2012 for the Bellemeade Creek Watershed Coalition from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The coalition supports environmental restoration of Bellemeade Creek in South Richmond.

The project will establish a new community-based coalition that will be trained in watershed stewardship and healthy communities. Bellemeade Creek is part of an urban watershed that includes the Bellemeade neighborhood and Hillside Court public housing development. It feeds into Goodes Creek, a tributary of the James River. Land use is primarily residential within the neighborhood, but the watershed project area is bound by commercial/industrial corridors along Route 1 and Commerce Avenue. It also includes the new Oak Grove Elementary School, currently under construction.

Over the past year, the city, GIC and its environmental organization partners have worked with community members, non-profit groups and business leaders to identify strategies to improve the health of both the creek and the community. Components include green streets that provide safe routes to school and improve water quality; creek crossings that provide watershed education and stream bank restoration; and community rain gardens that improve water quality and provide outdoor education.

The City has launched a number of new initiatives to promote walkability, greenways and healthy lifestyles in the city over the past several years, including crosswalk improvements, sidewalk repairs, stormwater runoff mitigation and a plan for better access to the James River.

Church Hill Gets a New Water Tank

The five million gallon ground storage tank in Church Hill at 714 N. 30th Street between 29th, 30th, M and N streets,was replaced in 2012-13. The tank provides processed drinking water to customers in the east part of town.

The former tank was built in 1954 and reached the end of its useful life. The new tank was built south of the existing tank behind the Church Hill Pump Station building.

Flood Wall FAQs

Frequently Asked Floodwall Questions

Q. How many miles long is the floodwall?

A. The section north of the James is 4,277 feet long and protects 150 acres of Shockoe Valley. The south side is 13,046 feet long and protects 600 acres. The northside floodwall extends from 12th and Byrd St. to 21st and E. Cary St. The southside floodwall extends from Goodes St. west to just west of the Manchester Bridge

Q. What is the highest point of the floodwall? Where is it? What is the lowest point of the floodwall?

A. The northside wall is between 15 and 25 feet high with the lowest point under the I-95 James River Bridge in Shockoe Bottom. The tallest structure on the southside is the Gravity U-wall just west of the Mayo Bridge which is 43 feet from the top to the river’s edge. This is the lowest point along the south side floodwall.

Q. What material is the floodwall made of?

A. Richmond's floodwall was completed in 1995. It's made of 22,000 cubic yards of concrete, 1,050 tons of reinforcing steel and 55,000 linear feet of steel piles.

Q. What do floodwall staff do?

A. General duties include preventative maintenance and operation of the floodwalls, canals and Bosher’s Dam fish ladder, landscape maintenance in warm weather months and repairs as needed.

Q. How often is Richmond’s floodwall tested?

A. Gates are tested once a year.

Q. When was the last time there was a flood in the city of Richmond?

A. The last significant floods occurred in 1996. The Blizzard of 1996 struck the Mid-Atlantic region in January, depositing a record amount of snowfall. Within two weeks of the blizzard, a major rainstorm blanketed the area. The combination of warm, humid air and heavy rainfall melted the snow at an unprecedented rate. In a little more than a day, 2 to 5 inches of water from snowmelt combined with 2 to 5 inches of rainfall to create massive flooding. The James River rose to 22 feet. Seven months later, rains from Hurricane Fran pushed the levels back up to 23.8 feet.

Q. How often are the pump stations checked?

A. The stations are checked daily and the pumps and related equipment are inspected and operated monthly.

Don't Flush Prescription Drugs Down the Drain

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet. Those who have accumulated unwanted or unused prescription drugs should safely dispose of those medications.

Drug Take-Back Programs, which collect leftover prescription drugs, are the safest method for disposing of prescription drugs. Visit the Attorney General of Virginia's website for more information on upcoming take-back programs.

Pharmaceutical contaminants can cause serious harm to fish and wildlife living near lakes and rivers. Humans can be exposed to these chemicals when they drink water drawn from a contaminated source or eat wild game or fish. The long-term human health risks from exposure to even small amounts of these chemicals is unknown.

Home disposal has risks, but when it is done correctly, it is still a viable option.

1. Remove medication from the original container and crush the pills or add water to them to dissolve them. Then mix the medication with kitty litter or coffee grounds to make it unattractive to children or pets and unrecognizable to drug abusers who may go through your trash.

2. Place the mixture in a container with a lid or in a sealable baggie and place it in your trash.

3. When discarding original pill bottles, scratch out or remove any identification on the bottle or package.

DO NOT dispose of medications in the toilet or sink.

DO NOT give medicine to friends or family. A drug that works for you could be dangerous to someone else, and it is also potentially illegal to share medicine.

If you have teenage children at home, keep your medications under lock and key as prescription drug abuse -- using stolen medications from home and the homes of friends for recreation -- is a leading contributor to teen drug abuse.

Up on the Roof -- The Green Roof

How often do you notice a roof? If it's the roof on the Richmond Department of Public Utilities' (DPU) Wastewater Treatment Plant effluent filtration building, you'll be sure to notice it because it is green and covered in plants.

A green roof is a permanent rooftop planting system that contains live plants. DPU installed this green roof in the fall of 2010. The building's existing roof is able to withstand the added weight of the plants.

Green roofs offer numerous benefits:

• Stormwater runoff reduction: Green roofs can absorb up to 99 percent of one inch of rainfall. Water is slightly filtered as it flows through the soil. Even during heavy rainfall, water is delayed running off the roof, allowing additional time for the sanitary sewer system to catch up.
• Energy savings: Green roofs provide natural insulation and can reduce heating and cooling costs. During summer months, the green roofs absorb sunlight and heat.
• Wildlife: Plants provide natural habitat for birds and small mammals.
• Noise reduction: Studies have shown that green roofs can reduce sound by as much as 40 decibels.
• Longer life than traditional roofs: Green roofs are better protected against ultraviolent radiation, large fluctuations in temperature, drying winds and punctures.

An added bonus is a roof covered in plants is attractive. They provide long-lasting blooms and a change of scenery for city workers. Plants on this green roof include sedum, alliums and euphorbia, all drought-tolerant, low-maintnenace varieties with a shallow root structure.

Green roofs are not new. They have existed for thousands of years and only now are experiencing a resurgence. Consult an engineer to install a green roof on your home or business for environmental and financial benefits, or just to have a peaceful place where the air is fresh and sweet "up on the roof."

Fix a Leak

Facts on Leaks

The average household's leaks accounts for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, enough water to wash nearly 10 months' worth of laundry.

Ten percent of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more a day.

Common leaks include worn toilet flappers, dripping faucets, and leaking showerheads, all easily correctable.

Fixing these leaks can save homeowners more than 10 percent on their water bills.

Leak Detection

A good method to check for leaks is to review your winter water use. A family of four has a serious leak if winter water use exceeds 12,000 gallons per month.

Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the meter does not read exactly the same, you probably have a leak.

Place a drop of food coloring in your toilet tank. If the color shows up in the bowl within 15 minutes, without flushing, you have a leak. (Flush immediately to avoid staining bowl once you see the color.)

A leaky faucet dripping one drip per second wastes more than 3,000 gallons per year.

Faucets and Showerheads

Fix leaky faucets by replacing washers and gaskets for wear.

A showerhead leaking 10 drips per minute wastes 500 gallons per year, enough to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher.

Most leaky showerheads can be fixed by retightening the connection using pipe tape and a wrench.

Toilets

If the toilet is leaking, try replacing the flapper. Over time, this inexpensive rubber part decays or gets mineral build-up.

Watersense toilets can save more than 16,000 gallons of water per year for a family of four.

Outdoors

Irrigation systems should be checked each spring to ensure they were not damaged by frost or freezing.

An irrigation system that has a leak barely the thickness of a dime can waste 6,300 gallons per month.

Check garden hoses for leaks at its connection to the spigot. If it leaks when you run the hose, replace the nylon or rubber hose washer and use pipe tape and a wrench for a tighter connection.

Dig with C.A.R.E.