Hopewell leaked 164,000 gallons of sewage into waterways in 2024 alone prior to 2025 sewage spill

HOPEWELL, Va. (WRIC) -- Hopewell's wastewater treatment plant leaked roughly 164,000 gallons of sewage into waterways over the course of eight incidents in the last six months of 2024, according to a Notice of Violation by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).

The eight incidents from July 2024 to December 2024 that caused the sewage to spill into waterways included mechanical failures, power losses and clogged pumps, according to the DEQ.

The DEQ issued a Notice of Violation for the plant on Jan. 21, 2025, in which it noted those incidents in 2024:

• On July 22, 2024, 10,000 gallons of sewage were released from a pump station to the ground surface and into Cattail Creek.
• On Aug. 5, 2024, 5,000 gallons of sewage were released from a pump station to the ground surface and into Cabin Creek due to a tripped pump.
• On Aug. 7, 2024, 10,000 gallons of sewage were released from a pump station to the ground surface and into Cabin Creek due to mechanical failure.
• On Sept. 16, 2024, 100,000 gallons of sewage were released from a manhole near a pump station to the ground surface and into Cattail Creek due to a clogged pump.
• On Sept. 24, 2024, 10,000 gallons of sewage were released from a pump station to the ground surface and into Cattail Creek due to a mechanical failure.
• On Sept. 25, 14,000 gallons of sewage were released from a pump station to the ground surface and into Cattail Creek due to a mechanical failure.
• On Oct. 24, less than 5,000 gallons of sewage were released from a pump station to the ground surface and into the James River due to a mechanical failure.
• On Dec. 2, 2024, more than 10,000 gallons of sewage were released from a pump station into Bailey's Creek due to a power loss at the pump station.

During an inspection by the DEQ on Nov. 22, 2024, it found multiple issues with equipment, including many being broken or out of service.

Inspectors also found that the facility did not have a documented preventative maintenance schedule. Staff interviewed by inspectors confirmed there was no preventative maintenance and added that equipment was only repaired after it stopped working.

These spills come to light following the discharge of roughly a million gallons of sewage by the same plant into waterways that occurred after an electrical failure on Friday, July 11, which officials said was caused by faulty wiring that made equipment inoperable.

The recreational swimming advisory remains in place, but officials hope to lift it by Friday, July 18. Even after the advisory is lifted, officials said swimming is still not recommended in the area due to heavy rainfall, which poses a contamination risk.

Though the plant was back up and operating as of Saturday, July 12, the city said a permanent repair to the faulty wiring is scheduled for completion by Friday, July 18.

Hopewell's Notice of Violation from the DEQ is available in full below.