{"id":14024,"date":"2025-07-10T14:33:00","date_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=14024"},"modified":"2025-07-10T14:33:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:33:00","slug":"three-rivers-health-district-issues-recreational-swimming-advisory-for-hoskins-creek-rappahannock-river-due-to-sewage-discharge","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/archived-news-releases\/2025-regional-news-releases\/three-rivers-health-district-issues-recreational-swimming-advisory-for-hoskins-creek-rappahannock-river-due-to-sewage-discharge\/","title":{"rendered":"Three Rivers Health District Issues Recreational Swimming Advisory for Hoskins Creek, Rappahannock River due to Sewage Discharge"},"content":{"rendered":"

July 10, 2025
\nMedia Contact:<\/strong> Brenden Rivenbark, Brenden.rivenbark@vdh.virginia.gov<\/p>\n

Three Rivers Health District Issues Recreational Swimming Advisory for Hoskins Creek, Rappahannock River due to <\/strong>Sewage Discharge
\n<\/strong>Public Advised to Avoid Contact with Contaminated Water from Downing Bridge to Wares Wharf<\/em><\/p>\n

SALUDA, Va. \u2013 Effective immediately, the Three Rivers Health District is issuing a recreational swimming advisory for Hoskins Creek and the Rappahannock River from the Downing Bridge extending along the shoreline downstream to Wares Wharf until further notice. For the safety of people and pets, Three Rivers Health District is advising that recreational water activities, such as swimming and wading, be avoided in this area of the waterways.<\/p>\n

\"ThreeThis advisory is issued out of an abundance of caution in response to an incident on July 9, where approximately 400,000 gallons of partially treated sewage was discharged from the plant into Hoskins Creek after a lightning strike caused an equipment failure. Ongoing discharge of partially treated sewage from the Town of Tappahannock wastewater treatment plant continues. The partially treated sewage is still being processed and filtered at the wastewater plant but is not undergoing final disinfection which could increase the likelihood of bacteria presence in the advisory area. The town does have a contingency plan in place to use other methods of final disinfection which will begin in the afternoon of July 10, and will continue to sample the treated sewage from the outfall to Hoskins Creek for the presence of bacteria.<\/p>\n

The Three Rivers Health District is advising the public to avoid activities in the advisory area that will result in prolonged contact such as swimming or stand-up paddle boarding (SUPing) and prevent pets from swimming. Activities that result in limited contact such wading in the water to launch a boat, kayaking, canoeing, may continue with proper caution.<\/p>\n

The Town of Tappahannock, Virginia Department of Health (VDH), and Department of Environmental Quality will continue to monitor this incident to assess any hazard to public health, and the advisory will be continuously evaluated.<\/p>\n

VDH has observed no evidence of impacts to drinking water at this time.<\/p>\n

To prevent recreational water illnesses due to sewage release events, people should:<\/p>\n