Local News
Two sewer main breaks during Friday’s torrential rain sent wastewater into the Merrimack River, prompting beach closures.
Plum Island Beach. David L. Ryan / The Boston Globe, File
Newburyport’s Plum Island Beach was closed to swimmers over the weekend after two sewer main breaks in Haverhill sent untreated wastewater into the Merrimack River following Friday’s torrential rain.
Newburyport’s director of public health announced the continued closure on Saturday — the beach had been closed the previous 48 hours due to sewer overflow in Haverhill. And officials continued to warn Monday morning that the beach would remain closed until water quality testing and additional information were available.
The state Department of Conservation and Recreation also issued a warning Saturday that swimming was not advised at Salisbury beaches due to the potential exposure to bacteria from the sewer overflow.
The closures comes as a heat wave with high humidity is expected to blast Massachusetts later this week.
According to the Newburyport Health Department, Haverhill discovered the first break in a 42-inch sewer force main near the city’s main pumping station after heavy rain swept through the region Friday.
While crews investigated the damage on Saturday, they discovered a second break, confirming that untreated wastewater was still flowing into the Merrimack River.
“Because this is now an active discharge, the City of Newburyport is closing the Plum Island Beach to swimming, effective immediately and until further notice,” city officials said in a statement.
In a Facebook post Saturday, Haverhill Mayor Melinda Barrett said the exact cause of the pipe failures remained under investigation. Barrett urged the public to avoid contact with the Merrimack River near and downstream from the spill.
“The city understands the public’s concern and is committed to keeping residents informed as repairs progress,” the mayor said.
Beth Treffeisen is a general assignment reporter for Boston.com, focusing on local news, crime, and business in the New England region.
Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
