The Boston Water and Sewer Commission on Monday night time reported an untreated sewage discharge, a considerably much less widespread occasion this summer season amid the extreme drought.
Other communities additionally reported mixed sewer overflows following the latest rainfall, sparking warnings to keep away from swimming in native rivers and our bodies of water due to micro organism and different pollution.
In Boston, the sewage discharge occurred at East Boston’s Sumner Street Upper Inner Harbor location — with the overflow heading into the Boston Harbor. About 100,000 gallons of discharge have been recorded.
“Avoid contact with these water bodies for 48 hours after the discharge or overflow ceases due to increased health risks from bacteria and other pollutants,” the Boston Water and Sewer Commission overflow notification acknowledged.
Combined sewers acquire each wastewater and stormwater, and convey it to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority for remedy.
During giant moist climate occasions, mixed sewers might attain capability and the untreated mixed stream is diverted to mixed sewer overflows that spill into native our bodies of water. This aid measure helps stop sewage backups into houses and companies.
Also on Tuesday, the Newburyport Health Department issued a public well being warning attributable to a mixed sewer overflow in Lowell.
“The Newburyport Health Department recommends that the public, including pets, avoid contact with the Merrimack River for 48 hours following a sewage discharge or overflow due to the increased health risks from bacteria and other pollutants associated with urban stormwater runoff and discharges of untreated or partially treated wastewater,” town company wrote in its warning.
The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority additionally reported handled discharge from its Somerville Marginal facility alongside the Mystic River Monday night time.
The Authority estimated that it was about 200,000 gallons of handled discharge — chlorinated then de-chlorinated.
This summer season amid the extreme drought has been considerably much less lively than final yr when it was extraordinarily wet. Since the top of June, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority has reported solely the discharge from Monday night time and through in the future in August, which was a a lot smaller discharge.
Last summer season compared, the Authority reported dozens of discharges as a number of tropical storms dropped buckets of rain throughout the area. Millions of gallons of discharge have been recorded. Rain throughout Ida overwhelmed outdated sewer methods round Boston, forcing a number of pipelines to discharge untreated wastewater into the Charles River.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”