{"id":740340,"date":"2026-07-03T06:10:23","date_gmt":"2026-07-03T06:10:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/740340\/"},"modified":"2026-07-03T06:10:23","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T06:10:23","slug":"sewage-overflow-issue-in-merrimack-river-is-resolved-officials-say-although-some-beaches-are-still-closed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/740340\/","title":{"rendered":"Sewage overflow issue in Merrimack River is resolved, officials say, although some beaches are still closed"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLocal News\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tOfficials are still urging people to avoid contact with the river near Haverhill and downstream for at least 48 hours.<\/p>\n

\"\"
\n\tHeavy rain caused a sewer force main to break near the South Mill Street Pumping Station in Haverhill. Jonathan Wiggs\/The Boston Globe\t<\/p>\n

The millions of gallons of untreated sewage that had been pouring into the Merrimack River since last Friday after a wastewater main failure in Haverhill have stopped flowing into the river, city officials announced Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Contractors successfully installed the first 24-inch temporary bypass pipeline, allowing wastewater to flow from Haverhill\u2019s South Mill Street Pump Station to the city\u2019s wastewater treatment plant instead of into the river, Mayor Melinda Barrett of Haverhill said in a statement.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a major milestone in the emergency response,\u201d Barrett said. \u201cStopping the discharge into the Merrimack River has been our highest priority since this incident began. Contractors and engineers have worked around the clock over the past several days to make this happen.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The failure of a 42-inch wastewater main<\/a> connected to Haverhill\u2019s South Mill Street Pump Station during thunderstorms last Friday sent an estimated 8 million gallons of untreated sewage into the Merrimack River each day, according to Newburyport Mayor Sean Reardon<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gov. Maura Healey<\/a> said Tuesday that state agencies, Haverhill officials, and contractors had begun coordinating an emergency response<\/a> to install a temporary bypass system that would restore wastewater flow to the city\u2019s treatment plant and stop the discharge.<\/p>\n

The sewage spill prompted swimming closures at beaches downriver in Ipswich, Newburyport, Essex, and Salisbury<\/a>, while the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries also temporarily closed shellfish growing areas<\/a> in Gloucester, Newburyport, Essex, Ipswich, Newbury, Rockport, Rowley, and Salisbury.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Despite the overflow ending, Barrett said the public should continue to avoid contact with the Merrimack River near Haverhill and downstream for at least the next 48 hours \u201cdue to the potential presence of elevated bacteria and other pollutants.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some restrictions have already begun to lift.\u00a0Ipswich officials announced Wednesday afternoon<\/a> that all of its beaches, including Pavilion, Crane, Steep Hill, Clark, and Little Neck are open for swimming again following two consecutive days of tests that showed bacteria levels were below \u201cthe state\u2019s threshold for concern.\u201d <\/p>\n

Still, Ipswich\u2019s Sandy Point beach remains closed, according to the state\u2019s interactive beach water quality dashboard<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The dashboard additionally lists Newburyport\u2019s Plum Island and Salisbury Beach Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Millions of gallons of city waste water spilled into the Merrimack River after a wastewater main break. \u2013 Jonathan Wiggs \/ Globe Staff<\/p>\n

While these beaches are closed for swimming, other recreational activities are still allowed, Healey said at a Tuesday press conference. She also noted that the Merrimack River flows water out to sea quickly, which could allow officials to uplift the swimming advisory before the Fourth of July<\/a> weekend.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Barrett said Haverhill officials are continuing to work with Xylem, DeFelice Corporation, and Wright-Pierce to complete the emergency response. Crews are expected to install a second temporary 24-inch bypass pipeline, aiming to increase the system\u2019s capacity to about 30 million gallons a day.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce completed, the second bypass line will provide sufficient capacity to convey much of the wet weather flows while permanent repairs to the damaged force main are completed,\u201d Barrett said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With the first bypass line now operational, crews will continue excavating the damaged sections of the 42-inch force main, inspecting the pipeline, and conducting engineering evaluations before permanent repairs begin, according to Barrett.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Barrett noted that sewer service for residents and businesses remained fully operational throughout the emergency response and that Haverhill\u2019s drinking water system has not been impacted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe City will continue to provide updates as work progresses toward completing the bypass system and permanently repairing the force main,\u201d Barrett said.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the Today newsletter<\/p>\n

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