Westchester Health Officials Close Some Beaches Due To Sewage Leak
RYE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- In the midst of a summer heat wave, some Westchester County beaches have been closed as a precaution after sewage leaked into the Long Island Sound.
County health officials have issued an advisory urging all recreational boaters and swimmers in Rye Harbor, Milton Harbor and Greenhaven in Rye and in Mamaroneck Harbor to avoid the Long Island Sound until further notice.
Advisory Issued In NYC For Hudson And East Rivers
Swimming is barred at Beach Point Club, Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club. Also Shore Acres Pointe and Harbor Island Park Beach, American Yacht Club, Shenorock Shore Club, Coveleight Club and Greenhaven Association.
Advisory Issued In NYC For Hudson And East Rivers
An underground force main break continues to release sludge near Blind Brook. The health department will take water samples and advise when it's safe to reopen the beaches.
The beach closures come as the Tri-State Area deals with another day of sweltering heat.
"Very bad timing," one beachgoer in Mamaroneck said. "Boy, it couldn't be at a worse time."
There is also a recreational water advisory for the Hudson and East rivers until 4 p.m. Tuesday after an overnight electrical issue at the North River Wastewater Treatment Plant in Harlem caused raw sewage to discharge into the Hudson.
New York City health officials are urging all swimmers and boaters to avoid contact with the Hudson River from the George Washington Bridge and south to lower Manhattan and the East River from lower Manhattan north to the Manhattan Bridge.
Advisory Issued In NYC For Hudson And East Rivers
The Department of Environmental Protection said it has taken additional steps to disinfect the water being discharged from the plant using bleach and will continue to sample the water.
The county said that the pollution should dissipate and that they will not be using the pipeline until it is fully repaired, CBS 2's Lou Young reported.
"We use tanker trucks. We manually fill the tanker trucks and take it to Port Chester," Westchester Environmental Facilities spokesman Tom Lauro explained.
Public beaches in the city have not been impacted, officials said.
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