River Contamination

Background

The Health Department began testing the river at Fairview Beach in 2003 for occurrences of the enterococci bacteria. A history of the effort to identify the sources of bacteria and correct the problem is presented below.

Prior to 2012, testing locations 1, 2, and 3 for Fairview Beach were (looking towards the river), respectively, to the right of Tim’s restaurant, 2nd street, and to the left of Tims’ restaurant.

During 2012 and 2013, when looking out to the river, location 1 was to the left of Tim’s, location 2 was to the right of Tim’s, and location 3 was at 2nd Street.

In early 2014, a fourth location was added near 6th Street.

In 2015, location 1 is about 50 feet west of Tim’s, location 2 is at 2nd Street, and location 3 is at 6th Street.

In 2016, location 1 is about 150 west of Tim’s, location 2 is 50 feet west of Tim’s, location 3 is at 2nd Street, and location 4 is at 6th Street.

Progress in Finding Solution to Contamination Problem  (presented in descending order by date)

2020- September

The average reading from samples taken August 31st was under the 104 MPH/100mL standard.  This completes sampling for 2020.   Please see the annual report at 2020 FBRA Beach Monitoring Report 8-31-20

This was one of the worst summers on record with advisories posted a total of 57 days.  Sampling was performed on 26 different days, and the average reading exceeded the 104 standard 65% of the time.  Four samples (s0, s1, s2, s3) were taken each of the 26 days, for a total of 104.  Get this- the average of the 104 readings was a staggering 246.5 MPN/100mL!

HRSD tested 30 samples from the beginning of the season through the week of June 29th.  No trace of human bacteria was found in any of the samples.  See the Fairview Beach Sample Results Aug 7 2020

2020- July
There was a slight change in protocol before the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) began testing samples during the 2020 swimming season.  VDH would draw a larger sample than usual, and test part of it.  If it exceeded 104MPN/100mL, they would send the rest of the sample to HRSD for testing.

Thirty samples have been sent to HRSD so far, and 23 have been tested.  None of the samples have had any trace of human bacteria via the HF183 marker.  However, both HRSD and VDH detected enterococci  counts as high as 1,100 copies/100mL and 2,200 MPN/100mL, respectively.

A meeting was held on July 6th to discuss progress so far.  Please review the meeting notes at Meeting with HRSD, VDH, and FVB July 6 2020.

2020- February
There was a skype/conference call yesterday among HRSD, VDH, TCCSWCD, DEQ, and Fairview Beach officials to discuss the HRSD report at Fairview Beach Microbial Source Tracking Pilot. HRSD will summarize the plans for the 2020 summer season. HRSD will focus more on testing samples that VDH has determined to have a bacteria reading of at least 500 MPN/100mL.

2019- December 2
Although the first wet weather samples taken on October 16th inferred that there are no problems with the sewage infrastructure, it was suggested to test wet weather samples a second time. The Virginia Department of Health took samples today, and will send them to HRSD for analysis tomorrow.

2019- October 16
VDH, FBRA officials, HRSD, and Tri-County participated in a conference call to discuss the October 16 sample results (see chart). HRSD said that about 700 copies/100mL is equivalent to 104MPN/100mL as measured by VDH, and that the light green circles were considered insignificant. The orange circle seems to be an isolated incident that does not impact the river. Although HRSD senses that there are no problems with the sewage infrastructure, they suggested that we test wet weather samples a second time.

2019- September 17
VDH completes weekly testings for bacteria.  Very few advisories until end of season, probably due to lack of rainfall.  Please see the 2019 FBRA Beach Monitoring Report for the entire season.

2019- August 7
From Raul Gonzalez from HRSD:
Great news! The results from the second round of FVB samples came back all negative for the human-associated fecal contamination marker (HF183). While the original plan was to collect 3 dry weather set of samples, I have a feeling a 3rd round of dry weather samples will come back negative as well. I suggest we target a wet weather/post wet weather event. This will be a ‘worst case scenario’ where any potential sewage sources are mobilized to the beach. Is everyone okay with this plan? These wet weather results will provide more support for future sampling recommendations.

Also, out of curiosity we will also be running other non-human markers on these samples but we won’t be running those until all samples come in.

2019- July 25
From Raul Gonzalez from HRSD: 
All samples came back negative (below detection limit) for our human fecal marker except for the sewage sample. In light of these results, lets collect one more dry weather event prior to having a call. If the results stay consistent we should consider a wet weather event for our sampling event.

2019- July 15
Representatives from the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) came up from Virginia Beach and took 15 water samples across the beach from west of the trailer park to Potomac Landing.  Samples were taken from both the river as well as from streams flowing into the river.  The purpose of the sampling was to search for traces of human waste, using state-of-the-art technology.  Results will known in about 10 days.

2019- June 23rd
Please see 6/22 Free Lance-Star article “Fairview Beach moving forward on solving waste-related problems“.

2019- June
The County is about to enter an agreement with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) to use funds provided by the Tri-County  City Soil and Conservation District for a comprehensive search for the source of the contamination.  The Virginia Health Department (VDH) will do the testing under the guidance of Danny Barker of HRSD

Our efforts to determine the source of the water contamination in the Potomac River off Fairview Beach are moving forward.  A proposed letter contract between HRSD and King George County has been provided by HRSD.  This proposal is Phase 1 and is estimated to cost $8,175.  Tri County City Soil and Conservation District is working on getting a commitment to the County to fund the first $24,000.  Once the county gets that commitment, they will enter into the agreement with HRSD to begin the testing.  Please see the Sampling Plan and a map of the  Sample Sites.

The Virginia Department of Health will do the actual sampling and then the samples will be shipped to HRSD for microbial source testing.  The goal is to narrow the initially broad testing area down to be able to locate the source of the human wast contamination and to then eliminate that source.

The Service Authority will also utilize cameras in the sewage lines nearest the river to look for cracks and areas where sewage could leak.  That testing will begin sometime after July 1 when the new fiscal year starts for the Service Authority

2019- April
Please see Free Lance-Star article, “K.G. paying the price for water, sewer neglect”

2018-  September
K.G. Service Authority making ‘amazing’ progress on correcting problems- please see September 6th article in Free Lance-Star

A second meeting was held among several government agencies on September 24th to discuss the contamination problem at Fairview.  Attending were residents, FBRA Board members, the Health Department, DEQ,  Tri County Soil & Conservation, and others.

Danny Barker, an environmental scientist with the Hampton Roads Sanitation District (HRSD) in Virginia Beach, gave a presentation on how they use state of the art DNA technology to track down human sources of contamination in a watershed.  HRSD is one of a handful of U.S. wastewater treatment authorities that have committed to the technology for such investigations.   Perhaps Mr. Barker can finally solve our problem

The Health Department gave Mr. Barker a tour of the Fairview Beach watershed.  He will propose an initial plan for the project, and provide cost estimates for each phase.  Several agencies were willing to allocate funds to at least start the project.

The Free Lance-Star published an Article that summarized the results of the meeting.

2018 – August
Please see the 2018 Beach Monitoring Summary 8-28-18 for results of VDH testing for the entire season.

Smoke testing has been completed in the trailer park with positive results.  One vacant trailer had a huge leak and another four or file trailers did not smoke for septic or sewer.  VDH will provide a drawing of who is connected to what.

Article in Free Lance-Star cites contamination problems in neighboring counties.  Please see article.

King George Service Authority facing $82,250 fine for wastewater violations
Please see article from Free Lance-Star on August 1.  More problems identified in 2nd article on August 9th.

2018 – July
VDH declared that results from canine tests for contamination were not acceptable evidence to get them involved.  Consequently, FBRA discontinued sending samples for canine analysis.

Also see  letter published to the editor of the Free Lance-Star on 6/13/2018:  Wastewater Woes Ignored for Years in King George.

2018- April  
King George Cited For Sewage Violations in  4/26/2018 article from Free Lance-Star by Cathy Dyson

2017- October
Fairview Beach articles posted in Free Lance-Star 10/5/2017
One of the articles pertains to the contamination problem, and the other on the FEMA grant.  Also please see Mike Bennett’s letter to the editor regarding the article on contamination.

2017- September
WATER CONTAMINATION Mike reviewed this year’s tests and recent advisories (please see the 2017 Beach Monitoring Summary).  Bacteria levels reached 1550, 1119, and 1413. Over 104 is bad and results in an advisory. We had 13 weeks of favorable results. We don’t know for certain where this is coming from. It may be from the trailer park but it may not. We also have high readings on this side of Fairview Drive, near 1st Street. Mike Shrewsbury has been assisting us. Discussion followed with further explanation by Mike of the testing process, followed by Don P. Mike pointed out that the septic tank in the trailer park pumped yesterday is the size for a 3-bedroom house with three people living there. We are doing everything we can to test other places. Mike S. granted access to the trailer park to Virginia Department of Health (VDH), KG Service Authority and FBRA. VDH has put dye into one septic tank to see if it is leaking and they also put dye in the Service Authority sewage lines. We are still trying to locate a second septic tank in the trailer park. We’ve made a lot of progress but we’re not there yet.

2017-August
Update on Water Contamination Mike met with Mike Shrewsbury to see about getting access to the trailer park to determine the location of the septic tanks and drain fields. Mike is trying to serve as the liaison between Mike Shrewsbury and the Government officials with jurisdiction over the problem. We are hoping that the walk through can occur after Labor Day. Mike also reported on the meeting with approximately 12 government officials that took place on July 31. Mike thanked Don for the technical assistance with the Power Point presentation for the government officials, which included Ruby Brabo, Chairman of the KG Board of Supervisors, as well as Virginia Dept. of Heath (VDH), Va. Dept of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the KG Service Authority. Mike gave a summary of that meeting, of which the major outcome was that VDH and the KG Service Authority will do dye testing and smoke testing to determine the location of septic systems and who is on county sewer systems once the walk through occurs.

2017-July
Water Contamination Update – Don stated that this is the 9th week with no swimming advisories this season. Human waste run-off has been found near the trailer park and is considered a public health hazard. Mike Bennett is organizing a meeting scheduled for 7/31/17 to include King George County’s Nieman Young, Chris Werle, Chris Thomas; VDH, DEQ, VDOT, Potomac River Keepers and Tri-County/City (Soil and Water Conservation District). Mike, Don, and Terry will have a Power Point presentation for the meeting as we have the greatest amount of information and data. We are waiting for one more test from run off from the drain in front of Tim’s. There is correlation between rainfall & hot samples. Leesa Shrewsbury asked why her husband, Mike Shrewsbury, has not been called or invited to this upcoming meeting and went on to say that Mike is willing to help in any way possible. It was stated that FBRA was under the impression since August 2016 that Mike was no longer representing the trailer park. It was also stated that VDH has tried to contact the owner and without his cooperation then VDH can’t do anything.

2017- June
Water Contamination Update – Don stated that there have been no swimming advisories this season. On June 12, we had the lowest readings since the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) began testing; it has been very dry in June with little rain. In addition to the samples taken from the Potomac River, other samples have been collected from the ground where there were large visible wet spots of two known septic fields in the trailer park. Three samples were sent to ‘Ship & Sniff’, two were positive for human waste and we are waiting on results of the third. Terry stated that it was the first ‘smoking gun’ we have found. When it rains something is bubbling out of the ground at septic field #2F (from map). When there is a hard rain brown water runs down the middle of the parking lot and right into the Potomac. On 5/30/17 Terry obtained 4 samples from LT2 (from map) halfway between SF2 and parking lot. On Thursday (June 22) Terry and Mike went to Guy Booth at Tim’s II to let him know what was going on and what has been discovered, he was very cooperative and understands. Mike stated that in a Tri-County meeting about a year ago, Jack Green was given an action item to find out if the trailer park was in compliance with pumping their septic tanks (which is every 5 years), we never received that information. Dr. Young was able to find out that there was no record that the trailer park septic tanks had ever been pumped since the law went into effect. The Ship & Sniff reports have been sent to Dr. Young and The Potomac River FBRA General Meeting Saturday, June 24, 2017 – 2 – Keepers, not sure of the next step but we may need more help from the County, this is a public health issue. Don made a motion for an additional $500 to cover expenses for sending samples to Maine for dogs to sniff for human waste, seconded by Bonnie Stone, motion carried.

2017-May
Contamination Update – Don received detailed info from “Ship & Sniff” for dogs to sniff river water samples to detect human waste for approximately $50 per sample. There will be 4 samples taken each Monday starting in June by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH). We will take samples at each place where VDH takes samples, if contamination is over the acceptable threshold which causes a swim advisory then we will send our respective samples to the company to check for human waste. There has to be a new bottle each time and the bottles cost approximately $80 for 20. The next step is to try to find out where the human waste is coming from. The Potomac River Keepers may sue the trailer park if it can be proven that is the source of the human waste contamination. Terry stated that the reason for this testing is that VDH cannot go on any property unless they see sewage coming up out of the ground. These test results could give us more leverage with the County and VHD. It was mentioned that in the past the Potomac River Keepers have put pressure on the City of Alexandria and the Power Plant at Possum Point for their river contamination and they have sued a trailer park that was dumping sewage into the Potomac. FBRA General Meeting Saturday, May 20, 2017 – 2 – The samples need to be received by the company in Maine within 5-7 days, it takes us 2 days to get the results from VDH and we will immediately ship the samples if necessary. Mike stated there is 1 active drain field between the trailers and the river and there are about 12 trailers hooked on to the County sewer system. The County sends 1 bill to the trailer park for all 12 trailers. Mike is going to remind Jim Howard to find out if the trailer park septic tanks are being pumped every 5 years. The watershed plan for FVB from DEQ was sent to EPA and can be found on the Fairview Beach website. Don made a motion for $600 to cover expenses for sending samples to Maine for dogs to sniff for human waste, seconded by Jim Holley, motion carried.

2017- April
UPDATE ON WATER CONTAMINATION ISSUES – Don Pfalzgraf reported on river testing for water contamination. If there is rain, the readings will be high, either from runoff or from the shore. Mike stated that the testing sites were changed a bit last year, moving further west on the river away from Tim’s. We haven’t yet proven that the trailer park is the source of the human waste portion of the contamination. If the results are bad, it is retested a few days later and then reported. Good news is that we have some help. There is a company with trained dogs to find human waste. Many localities use this service – we send a jar of liquid and for $35 plus shipping they will have a dog test it and then report to us whether it is human waste. An advisory is posted the measurement is over 104. We need current information on whether it is human and then can take the next step to see if it is from the trailer park. The Potomac River Keepers will assist us. The trailer park owner has been totally uncooperative. The watershed plan was supposed to take care of this problem, but that plan was denied because the trailer park owner would not cooperate. The Virginia Dept of Health has the primary jurisdiction but won’t do anything unless it is visible on the surface. There is a huge septic drain field between the trailers and the river – they don’t last forever and should be pumped out every five years. We have asked if the pump-out occurred as required but the King George official in charge left for another job and so now that is in limbo. 12 trailers are hooked up to county sewer. Many more (Terry said approx. 35) are not hooked up, but have drain fields. Our numbers for river bacteria are the highest in Virginia and it’s always worse after a heavy rain. Mike hasn’t yet met the new county administrator, but hopes to do so. Jim Howard, our county supervisor who was present, said he will bring him to a future FBRA meeting. There were several questions and comments regarding this issue. Mike said the trailer park originally was zoned for summer use only, but that was changed for a townhouse development, which has never been built. Tim’s II and the Shore Store are located on the trailer park property. Ginny Grimes was at the meeting regarding the townhouses and it was stated that as trailers moved out, more would not come in, but that hasn’t been the case. There is a trailer outside the park right now that will be moved in and set up. Jim Howard made a note and stated that he will look into that. Mike had a conference call last year with the Potomac River Keepers. They do not feel we have enough information or evidence yet to sue the owner of the trailer park. Question was asked if we need to approve a motion to use the dogs for water testing that Don spoke of. Mike said not at this time as the BOD can approve up to $500.

2016-September
During the summer, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) did perform a “walk-over” the trailer park area, looking for possible gross malfunctions.  None were found, although  a small area of wetness was located in the mass drainfield area (North side of Botts Lane in field).  VDH was not able to contact the owner to assist them find and uncover septic tanks.

2016-June
The VDH will be conducting a Sanitary Survey of the Mobile Home Park within the next several weeks.  This will simply be to try to locate existing Septic Tanks and to “walk-over” the area to determine if any gross malfunction is occurring.

2015-Dec
The Virginia Department of Health took samples from the end of May until the end of August.  A record 15 beach advisories were posted.  Still no funds available to execute the Water Implementation Plan (see below).

2015-May
Grants still have not been found to finance the work described in the plan below.

The Virginia Department of Health is sampling at three locations in 2015.  Looking out towards the water, sampling location 1 is about 100 feet west of Tim’s, sampling location 2 is at 2nd Street, and sampling location 3 is at 6th Street.

2014-December
DEQ is in the process of finding grants to finance the work described in the Watershed Implementation Plan.  The Tri – County / City Soil & Water Conservation District (TCCSWCD)  has applied for a grant on our behalf as the sponsoring agency. The application was submitted on November 17, 2014, and we are waiting word.

2014-September
Final version of the Fairview Beach Watershed Implementation Plan was released.

2014-July 23
A draft Fairview Beach Watershed Implementation Plan was presented at the Final Public Meeting on July 23rd.  Comments were due by August 25th.

2014-July 10
DEQ met with the Steering Committee on July 10 to prepare a draft water watershed implementation plan for Fairview Beach.  Please see minutes from that meeting.

2014-May
A second meeting was held between DEQ, other government agencies, and the Fairview Beach Steering Committee on May 15th to continue discussing the watershed implementation plan.  Please see  the Summay of May-2014 Water Implementation Plan Meeting.

2014-Feb
DEQ and other government agencies met with several Fairview Beach residents at a public meeting on February 20th to begin working on a watershed implementation plan.  Please see  minutes from that meeting.

2013- November
To assist with the development of the Watershed  Plan for DEQ, VDH has developed a Draft Sampling Planfor microbial source tracking during the month of November after a rain event.  Both VDH and Virginia Tech will be involved.