Effectively immediately, the Warren County Health Department is lifting the recreational water advisories, related to the South Hill, VA Warehouse Fire, for the sections of the Roanoke River and Lake Gaston within 5 miles of the North Carolina and Virginia border based on guidance from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. The decision to lift these advisories mirrors the lifting of recreational advisories in Virginia by the Virginia Department of Health and is based on the same information detailed below.

From the Virginia Department of Health

“VDH considered several factors prior to lifting these advisories to protect public safety, to include field observations from environmental field staff, weather conditions (rainfall), and surface water sampling to monitor concentrations of contaminants. The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have been testing these creeks and river since the event to assist in the evaluation of the impacts of these chemicals on public health. Based on the above factors, recreational use and fish consumption activities may resume.

The advisories were issued out of an abundance of caution due to a release of chemicals from an industrial fire in South Hill on July 6. Runoff from water used to extinguish the fire created a plume which traversed along the nearby Dockery and Mountain creeks. Chemicals stored at the facility included fuel, fertilizers, herbicides and many others. The site has since been fully contained eliminating chemicals from the incident entering the environment.”

For more information related to the incident please scan the QR code.

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality has observed no evidence of impacts to drinking water at this time.

Swimming or other activities in any natural body of water always pose some health risk because the water is not disinfected. Children under the age of five years, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of contracting illness from natural bodies of water.

To stay safe while recreating and fishing in state waters the public should:

· Never swallow untreated water and don’t swim if your skin has cuts or open wounds.

· Wash hands frequently, including after swimming and before preparing and eating food.

· Shower or bathe after swimming to wash off possible germs and contaminants.

· Check the water and the area around it before swimming. Avoid going in water if there is a green film on the water or if the water is cloudier than usual. Avoid swimming near storm drains or livestock.

· Avoid swimming if you are vomiting or have diarrhea.

· Avoid contact swimming in natural waterways for three days following rain events. Heavy rain picks up anything it comes in contact with, including germs from overflowing sewage, polluted storm water, and runoff from land.

· Avoid any area of the waterbody where there is water with a foul or chemical odor, dead or dying fish, or discolored water.

· If taking fish caught from natural waters, remove the skin from filets and dispose of viscera and internal organs. Cook filets to proper temperature and clean knives and cutting boards with soapy water. Follow posted fish consumption advisories.

· Check with your healthcare provider before swimming in oceans, lakes, rivers, and other natural bodies of water if your body’s ability to fight germs is already affected by other health problems or medicines. For more information on recreational water safety, visit https://epi.dph.ncdhhs.gov/cd/water/prevent.html.

For further information please, contact the Warren County Health Department at (252) 257-1538.