Harvesting still banned in portions

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - Newest water samples from James River revealed portions of the river are now open to shellfish harvesting, although some portions of the James and Nansemond rivers remain off limits.

10 On Your Side joined the Department of Health Wednesday, as they took water samples from Nansemond River, where a massive sewage spill erupted during Hurricane Sandy.

Jon Dickerson with Shellfish Sanitation Division says pollutants in the Nansemond River are not easily detected.

"Coliphornes, you can't see them, you can't detect them other than with the sampling methods that we use," Dickerson said.

Coliphornes are a type of bacteria found in the sewage of warm-blooded animals including human waste. They have found their way into nature's filter-feeders, better known as oysters.

"They're pathogens so they can be harmful to people if they consume the shellfish," Dickerson said.

Dickerson and shellfish specialist, Farah Monis, took water samples to measure the Coliphage level in the river.  Unfortunately little else can be done.

"There's really no way to remove them.," Dickerson said. "So we have to know they're there.  We have to sample for them, detect them and wait for mother nature to take its' course."

The Dept. of Health hopes to have the closed waterways open by the end of the month, if not sooner.

Results are expected Friday.