Larchmont-Mamaroneck Patch
13 Sep 2011

"According to Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum, the village is not taking any measures to treat the spill at this time."

*NOTE: Mamaroneck has been fined by the EPA for the presence of HUMAN fecal matter in the water.

UPDATE: Sewage Leak Into Sound Last Night; Advisory Issued in Mamaroneck
A sewage leak last night at the West Basin Pump Station at Harbor Island Park released 162,000 gallons of raw sewage into the Sound.

Sept. 15 - The Westchester County Department of Health has lifted the beach and boater advisory after two water samples showed the water met safety standards, according to a press release.

People who use the water for recreational purposes can resume their activities at the following beaches and marinas: Harbor Island Park Beach, Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, Shore Acres Club, Beach Point Club, Orienta Beach Club, Derecktor Boat Yard, Brewer Post Road Boat Yard Marina, Mamaroneck Municipal Marina, Nichols Yacht Yard, Mamaroneck Boat and Motors, and McMichael's Boat Yard. No other beaches or marinas were affected.

Update: The overflow of sewage came from a manhole on Rushmore Avenue before it reached the West Basin Pumping Station, said Caren Halbfinger, the director of public health information for the Westchester County Department of Health. The sewage was chlorinated before it reached the drain and will be washed away by the natural "ebb and flow of the tide" according to Halbfinger.

Original Story

Mamaroneck residents are advised to steer clear of water in the Long Island Sound after a pump at the West Basin Pump station, a sewage treatment plant below ground at Harbor Island Park on the corner of Orienta and Boston Post Road failed at approximately 11 p.m. last night, said Halbfinger.

The leak resulted in an estimated 162,000 gallons of untreated sewage being released into the Sound until the pump was repaired by the Department of Environmental Facilities this morning, according to a release sent out by the Health Department.

The Health Department is advising people who use the water for recreational purposes to avoid direct contact with the water until further notice in the following areas: Harbor Island Park Beach, Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, Shore Acres Club, Beach Point Club, Orienta Beach Club, Derecktor Boat Yard, Brewer Post Road Boat Yard Marina, Mamaroneck Municipal Marina, Nichols Yacht Yard, Mamaroneck Boat and Motors, and McMichael�'s Boat Yard.

The Village of Mamaroneck prohibits people from going swimming in the water at Harbor Island Park Beach after Labor Day, although the beach is open year-round.
There have been several instances of raw sewage being discharged into water used for swimming and other recreational activities.

In late July, a fire at a sewage treatment plant in Harlem spewed millions of gallons of sewage into the Hudson and Harlem Rivers as the NY Times reported. In early August, a large tree fell on a sewer pipe in Ossining, causing the pipe to break and sewage to leak into the Hudson River.

In the past, the Health Department has only released notifications during beach season, when swimmers were most likely to be utilizing the water for recreational purposes, between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

This has changed, however, said Halbfinger, due to the increased use of waters year-round for activities such as kayaking and boating.

The Health Department has now changed their procedure to make notifications year-round.

Depending on the severity will depend on how broadly we are making our notifications, she said.

According to Village of Mamaroneck Mayor Norman Rosenblum, the village is not taking any measures to treat the spill at this time.

"Unfortunately, there is no direct treatment of the East and West Basin other than letting the tide and 'Mother Nature' take its course," he said.

The Health Department is testing the waters today to determine when the advisory can be lifted. In addition to the advisory issued, telephone notification to affected beaches and marinas has been made. 

See more about Westchester4Geese