Sewage Leak in Hudson Closes 2 Westchester Beaches

Sewage Leak in Hudson Closes 2 Westchester Beaches

Sewer main break caused by fallen tree.

By Rashaud Thomas

|  Thursday, Aug 11, 2011  |  Updated 6:02 PM EDT

Sewage spilling into the Hudson River has forced two Westchester beaches to close.

 

Westchester County officials closed two beaches Thursday after a sewer main break in the village of Ossining sent sewage spewing into the Hudson River. 

Croton Point Park Beach and Philipse Manor Beach were closed, and health officials were advising area marinas and boating clubs to close.

Officials also urged swimmers, boaters, windsurfers and kayakers to avoid direct contact with the Hudson River.

The 18-inch sewer main broke as a result of a fallen tree. The sewer main is discharging sewage into Killbrook Creek, which is about a quarter-mile from the Hudson River.

The Health Department estimated 1.5 million gallons per day of sewage was discharging because of the break. To alleviate the damage to the river, the village is adding chlorine solution upstream and working to fix the break.

The Health Department said it was collecting beach-water quality samples and will issue an updated advisory based on the sample results received Friday.

This is the second sewage spill that has forced officials to close beaches near the Hudson River. In July, four beaches were closed due to a fire at a Harlem treatment plant, which forced the facility to dump sewage into the Hudson River.