HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Two sewer main breaks sent 1.4 million gallons of sewage into Henrico County's Gillies Creek, prompting officials to warn residents to stay out of the water as remediation efforts continued. Crews with Henrico's Department of Public Utilities (DPU) were dispatched to Gillies Creek the evening of Friday, Oct. 23, and finished repairs to the water main, according to a Thursday press release. Wastewater flowed into a short section of the creek near Kemp Avenue as a result of the break, which DPU leaders said was caused by an older main that dates back to the 1970s or 1980s. However, the cause of the water main breaks remains unknown. Bentley Chan, the director of the county's DPU, said the discharge is happening intermittently, depending on how much wastewater the pump station can store and when the pumps can cycle on and off. County leaders said the sewage discharge impacts are "minimal," though crews hold a large portion of the wastewater at the nearby Gillies Creek Pump Station and send it slowly to Henrico’s Water Reclamation Facility in eastern Henrico for treatment. The pump station and main are now functioning normally. DPU completed repairs to the sewer main the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 27. Crews continue to remove impacted soil near the break and investigate impacts from the discharge, according to the county. The creek is not typically used for recreation, but it flows into the James River about a mile and a half downstream from the break. Chan said they have not yet identified contamination or impact downstream near where the two intersect. He said officials received reports of a possible issue, but there have been no problems. Henrico officials urge people to stay out of the water and follow these precautions: Avoid eating fish that appear to be sick, such as swimming weakly or floating Wash your hands after handling fish Follow normal sanitary rules when cleaning, skinning and filleting fish, including washing hands before starting and after finishing. Wash cutting boards and knives with warm, soapy water, and clean counters that may have contacted raw fish Always cook fish to a safe temperature (145 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) DPU is working closely with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Department of Health during these efforts. There has been no impact on the public water supply, Chan said. Over the next couple of weeks, officials will continue monitoring oxygen levels in the waterways and conducting daily inspections for unusual odors, discoloration or signs of problems affecting marine life. DPU expects to provide a follow-up update within the next two weeks. DPU monitors all sanitary sewer overflows on this public map. If you are looking to report any signs of contamination, you are asked to call 804-501-4275 during normal business hours or 804-501-5025 after hours. ...read more read less