Merrimack River Sewer Discharge Update
Wednesday July 1st, 2026, 2:30pm
As the public is aware, a major sewer force main failure occurred in the City of Haverhill on June 26, resulting in the discharge of untreated wastewater into the Merrimack River, causing Newburyport to have to close Plum Island beaches in the City, as well as to advise against access to the Merrimack River.
On the morning of Wednesday Jul 1st, we received news from the City of Haverhill that a 24" bypass line has now been installed and connected to the Haverhill treatment plant. This bypass line is intended to prevent further discharge into the Merrimack River of untreated sewage graywater, which has been ongoing after the sewer force main failure in Haverhill.
We are working with other municipalities and state officials to determine whether this bypass line will have the intended effect and allow for the reopening of Newburyport’s beaches. At the moment, all City of Newburyport beaches remain closed for swimming. Residents and visitors are also advised to continue to avoid contact with Merrimack River water and Plum Island beaches for both humans and pets until further notice from the Newburyport Board of Health. Fishing (including clamming and shellfish harvesting) in the river and along the coast is strongly advised against, as testing points along the river indicate dangerous fecal bacteria levels.
The City of Newburyport Health Department is conducting daily water testing on the river with results being returned from the laboratory roughly 24 hours after testing occurs. Merrimack River Watershed Council has also conducted testing, and the first water tests have been returned, showing where dangerous bacteria are concentrated. Initial state testing results will be available later in the day on Wednesday and will help determine whether swimming advisories can be lifted. Currently, City of Newburyport Board of Health plans to await results from testing 24 hours after the discharge has stopped before reopening beaches. The City expects to obtain those results by Saturday, July 4th.
In the meantime, if you see any evidence of debris or solids in the River or along City beaches, please use the state’s Office of Coastal Zone Management app “MyCoast” to report it. This tool is typically used to report impacts after storms and has a regular group of users. It’s been expanded by state officials for this use during this time.
As noted above, Mayor Reardon continues to be in direct contact with Governor Healey and the Healey-Driscoll administration to share concerns from the City of Newburyport and engage in ongoing efforts as officials at the state and local levels share information and discuss next steps to address this emergency. Mayor Reardon is also in regular contact with officials including City of Haverhill leadership and all downstream communities, our state and federal legislators, and the Healey-Driscoll Administration.
Governor Healey has organized daily briefings with the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA), Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Department of Public Health (DPH), Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR), Fish and Wildlife, and many others. More than 75 municipal and state officials attended yesterday’s briefing.
We sincerely appreciate the efforts of the Healey-Driscoll Administration to swiftly activate this whole of government response. We also appreciate the public’s patience as state and local officials work to address this matter.
Newburyport will be posting information and updates on the City website and through our social media accounts and will continue to provide updates as we receive more information.
This sewer system failure has created significant adverse environmental, economic and quality of life impacts for Newburyport residents, businesses and visitors. Mayor Reardon is committed to seeking accountability and preventative measures so an event like this does not occur again. We are pursuing all options including collaborations with Haverhill and neighboring communities, state and federal remedies and researching legal avenues for consideration. Currently, the state is committed to requiring Haverhill to complete an engineering analysis to identify the cause of the force main break. Permanent corrective actions will be determined as soon as possible.
The immediate focus of all parties is on making sure the discharge is verifiably stopped and taking steps to minimize the impact of this event.
This comes at a time when Newburyport and neighboring communities are facing extreme heat and a holiday weekend that many of us spend by the water. Please follow any posted signage regarding avoiding contact with the water in the Merrimack River and follow along for important updates.
Information on Newburyport Drinking Water Supply:
Is there any risk or concern regarding drinking water related to the Haverhill CSO event?
No. The finished drinking water leaving the treatment plant is continuously monitored 24 hours a day, and there is no indication that the Haverhill CSO event has affected drinking water quality.
Is there any enhanced testing being conducted during this event?
Yes. Out of an abundance of caution, we have conducted a full round of bacteriological sampling throughout the distribution system. Results will be returned within 24 hours. We have also increased monitoring of organic parameters in the source water entering the treatment plant.
Since the alum treatment was completed, we have continued to observe very low organic levels. This enhanced monitoring helps ensure the continued safety and quality of the drinking water supply.
Helpful Links:
Updates from Haverhill
Haverhill Consent Decree Compliance Reports
Interactive Beach Water Quality Dashboard
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/interactive-beach-water-quality-dashboard
Sewer Force Main Break in Haverhill FAQ
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/sewer-force-main-break-in-haverhill-frequently-asked-questions
Merrimack River Watershed Council Testing?
https://merrimack.org/haverhill-info/