... and the water quality dramatically improved.

Caution urged as sewage leaks into Hudson River

By TOM McELROY - Associated Press | AP ? Fri, Jul 22, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ? Environmental officials urged swimmers and kayakers to stay out of New York City waters Thursday because a wastewater treatment plant disabled by fire was spewing millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Hudson River.

New York City Department of Environmental Protection officials urged people to avoid swimming, canoeing, and any other recreational activities involving direct contact with the water through at least Sunday in New York Harbor on the Hudson River, on the East River along Manhattan, and the Harlem River.

Officials also cautioned against swimming and bathing at Staten Island's South Beach, Midland Beach and Cedar Grove Beach, and Brooklyn's Sea Gate beach, especially for people with underlying medical conditions. Officials said testing indicated that those beaches may be affected by the sewage spill.

Police harbor units were patrolling near the plant to ensure boaters keep a proper distance. The city Parks Department was restricting access to the river at the 79th Street Boat Basin and placing signs prohibiting recreational water activities from all city boat launch sites along the Hudson River and other nearby sites, according to DEP spokesman Farrell Sklerov.

DEP staff and contractors were inside the facility assessing damage and performing cleanup. Officials gave no word on when the plant would be running again. Some wastewater was being diverted to other facilities, Sklerov said.

DEP and city health officials were taking samples in the harbor and at area beaches, which remain open.

Consuming any fish caught in the affected waters also was not recommended for the time being. Officials urged anglers to release any fish they catch back into the water.

The North River Wastewater Treatment Plant was taken offline Wednesday following a four-alarm fire in the engine room. Untreated wastewater began flowing into the river beginning at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday and has continued since.

The plant has been in operation since 1976 and treats on average 120 million gallons of wastewater a day.

The Westchester County Health Department notified its residents to avoid direct contact with the Hudson River along Westchester County through the weekend.

New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said water tests were being done for bacteria and pathogens. He said no impact is expected south of Sandy Hook at the Jersey Shore.

"We're on top of it, we want the public to be aware we're staying on top of it and we're going to continue to communicate as we learn more information," Martin said Thursday afternoon.

Caution urged as sewage leaks into Hudson River

By TOM McELROY - Associated Press | AP ? Fri, Jul 22, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) ? Environmental officials urged swimmers and kayakers to stay out of New York City waters Thursday because a wastewater treatment plant disabled by fire was spewing millions of gallons of raw sewage into the Hudson River.

New York City Department of Environmental Protection officials urged people to avoid swimming, canoeing, and any other recreational activities involving direct contact with the water through at least Sunday in New York Harbor on the Hudson River, on the East River along Manhattan, and the Harlem River.

Officials also cautioned against swimming and bathing at Staten Island's South Beach, Midland Beach and Cedar Grove Beach, and Brooklyn's Sea Gate beach, especially for people with underlying medical conditions. Officials said testing indicated that those beaches may be affected by the sewage spill.

Police harbor units were patrolling near the plant to ensure boaters keep a proper distance. The city Parks Department was restricting access to the river at the 79th Street Boat Basin and placing signs prohibiting recreational water activities from all city boat launch sites along the Hudson River and other nearby sites, according to DEP spokesman Farrell Sklerov.

DEP staff and contractors were inside the facility assessing damage and performing cleanup. Officials gave no word on when the plant would be running again. Some wastewater was being diverted to other facilities, Sklerov said.

DEP and city health officials were taking samples in the harbor and at area beaches, which remain open.

Consuming any fish caught in the affected waters also was not recommended for the time being. Officials urged anglers to release any fish they catch back into the water.

The North River Wastewater Treatment Plant was taken offline Wednesday following a four-alarm fire in the engine room. Untreated wastewater began flowing into the river beginning at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday and has continued since.

The plant has been in operation since 1976 and treats on average 120 million gallons of wastewater a day.

The Westchester County Health Department notified its residents to avoid direct contact with the Hudson River along Westchester County through the weekend.

New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said water tests were being done for bacteria and pathogens. He said no impact is expected south of Sandy Hook at the Jersey Shore.

"We're on top of it, we want the public to be aware we're staying on top of it and we're going to continue to communicate as we learn more information," Martin said Thursday afternoon.

Quote:

A few days

When something like this happens, how long does it take for the sewage to "go away"?

Swimmers and kayakers told to stay out of sewage-tainted Hudson River

Published: Friday, July 22, 2011, 3:00 AM
By The Jersey Journal

Swimmers and kayakers are being urged to stay out of the Hudson River in northern New Jersey because a New York wastewater treatment plant disabled by fire is spewing raw sewage into the river.

New Jersey Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin recommended yesterday that all water recreation activities be suspended between the George Washington and Verrazano Narrows bridges, which includes all of New York Harbor.

Martin told the Associated Press that two boats with scientists aboard have been dispatched to the river to collect water samples and do visual inspections. The first results are due within 24 hours.

The plant became disabled by a serious fire Wednesday. Millions of gallons of untreated wastewater are spilling into the river.

The sewage came from an Upper West Side water treatment plant after a fire a day earlier compromised a second-story engine room, officials said.

The four-alarm fire broke out Wednesday afternoon at North River Wastewater Treatment Plant on West 135th Street, prompting evacuation and closure of Riverside Drive and Riverbank State Park.

The Lincoln Harbor Yacht Club in Weehawken and the Liberty Landing Marina in Liberty State Park could not be reached for comment on whether the leak has affected their operations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.