Yikes!!💩Hopewell plant spills 1 million gallons of raw sewage; James River swimming advisory issued [View all]

HOPEWELL, Va. — A major release of raw sewage from Hopewell's wastewater treatment plant has health officials warning people and their pets to avoid a major portion of the James River as well as Gravely Run Creek.



Hopewell officials said faulty wiring was to blame for a power failure at the Hopewell Water Renewal plant at 11:50 p.m. on Friday.

The "headworks of the domestic influent" became inoperable and caused "overflow conditions at the influent screens," city officials said.

Officials with the Virginia Department of Health issued a recreational swimming advisory for Gravely Run Creek and sections of the James River from the Old City Point Waterfront Park. It extends downstream the entire width of the James River to Berkley in Charles City County, including all of Tar Bay.

https://www.wtvr.com/news/local-news/hopwell-sewage-plant-spill-swimming-advisory-james-river-gravely-run-creek-july-12-2025