Raw Sewage Could Be Discharged in Hudson
Friday, Mar 20, 2009 | Updated 5:11 PM EST
AP
He may be up s**** creek, but at least he's got a paddle.
About 2 million gallons of raw sewage could be discharged into the Hudson River while a pipeline in suburban New York is repaired.
People should avoid contact with the water on Sunday, Westchester County health officials said. Work on the major trunk sewer line in Yonkers is scheduled from midnight to 4 a.m.
Affected areas will be parts of the Hudson from Tarrytown to the Bronx. Residents don't need to worry about the water in their homes, just avoid contact with those parts of the Hudson Health officials said.
People walking along the river in Yonkers had mixed reactions.
"This is what needs to be done for repairs and the sewage is treated so I'm not concerned" one resident said.
"I always boat in the hudson and its been cleaned up in the past few years so I don't want to see these water get filthy again,I worry about the safety" another passerby said.
A gasket on the line north of the Yonkers Joint Wastewater Treatment Plant needs to be replaced to stanch a minor leak, health officials said.
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Environmental Director Manna Jo Greene said the sewage will have an impact on aquatic life.
The sewage is filtered to clear solids and chlorinated before it's released into the water, according to the Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health Lenny Meyerson.
