NEWBURYPORT — Plum Island Beach was closed to swimming on Saturday, June 27, after Haverhill officials discovered breaks in a sewer force main that caused untreated wastewater to discharge into the Merrimack River, Newburyport Director of Public Health Kelechi Obika announced.
Earlier Saturday, Obika said city officials had announced that Plum Island Beach would reopen for swimming following the expiration of a 48-hour precautionary closure connected to a June 25 sanitary sewer overflow upstream in Haverhill.
However, late Friday night, during heavy downpours that affected the region, Haverhill officials discovered a break in a 42-inch sewer force main near its main pumping station, Obika said. As crews investigated the damage Saturday, a second break was identified.
The second break confirmed an ongoing discharge of untreated wastewater into the Merrimack River, prompting Newburyport to close the beach to swimming until further notice, rather than just 48-hours.
“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.
The Newburyport Health Department is coordinating with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, regional partners, and Haverhill officials, Obika said.
Obika said the city will continue to monitor the situation and reopen Plum Island Beach for swimming once water quality conditions are assured to be safe.
“We appreciate the public’s patience and understanding as we work with our state and regional partners to monitor this situation, protect public health, and safely reopen the beach as soon as conditions allow,” Obika said.
