Plum Island Beach in Newburyport is closed to swimming after the city of Haverhill discovered an ongoing discharge of untreated wastewater into the Merrimack River. Officials are recommending avoiding contact with the river in Haverhill and downstream.
Newburyport public health director Kelechi Obika said officials initially announced the beach would reopen Saturday after a 48-hour precautionary period because 60,000 gallons of wastewater was accidentally dumped into the Merrimack River by a contractor doing sewer work on Thursday.
However, the beach had to close again on Saturday after the city of Haverhill discovered two breaks in a 42-inch sewer force main near its main pumping station Friday night that further led to an ongoing discharge of untreated wastewater to the Merrimack River.
“This closure is being implemented out of an abundance of caution to protect public health while the discharge is stopped, repairs are completed and conditions can be fully evaluated,” Obika said in a statement.
Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett said in a statement Monday morning that the city estimates around 8 million gallons of wastewater are entering the Merrimack River per day due to the force main breaks.
“Residents and recreational users are advised to continue avoiding contact with the Merrimack River in the vicinity of Haverhill and downstream until further notice due to the potential presence of elevated bacteria and other pollutants,” Barrett said.
The beach will reopen for swimming once “water quality conditions are assured to be safe,” Okiba said.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
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