October 2, 2015
(Petersburg, Va.)- The Crater Health District recommends all Dinwiddie County residents to avoid human contact with, or consumption of water in Stony Creek. Continued sampling by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has shown persistent elevation of Escherichia coli (E.coli) levels in the Stony Creek waterway in Dinwiddie County. These elevated levels occur after prolonged periods of wet weather or heavy rains. It is difficult to pinpoint exact locations at this time, and areas of elevation may continue to change due to heavy rainfall and potential flooding.
E. coli are bacteria normally found in the intestines of people and animals. Most E. coli are harmless, and a normal part of a healthy human intestinal tract. However, some E. coli can cause illness such as diarrhea. E. coli that can cause illness can be found in contaminated water or food, or through contact with animal or human waste.
For more information, visit craterhd.net or call 804-863-1652. Also, you can visit Crater Health District on Facebook /CRATERHD and Twitter @CraterHD.