Watch Out: Millions of Gallons of Raw Sewage Dumped in to the Merrimack River

If you've ever spent a summer on the Merrimack, you know the feeling. Boats heading toward the ocean. Fishermen casting lines. Kids jumping off docks. Restaurants buzzing along the waterfront.

Right now, though, there's a conversation happening that nobody wants to have.

After a major 42-inch sewer force main broke in Haverhill, millions of gallons of untreated sewage are being discharged into the Merrimack River while crews work to install temporary bypass lines and repair the damage, according to CBS News.

Officials have closed swimming at Plum Island and are urging people to avoid contact with the river downstream until repairs are complete.

Estimates put the discharge at roughly 7–10 million gallons a day until a temporary fix is in place, the news station reported.

Officials are asking people to stay out of portions of the Merrimack River after a major wastewater pipe failure in Haverhill, Massachusetts, led to untreated sewage being discharged into the river, CBS said.

The impact stretches well beyond Haverhill.

Communities downstream have issued health advisories, and beaches at Plum Island and other locations near the mouth of the Merrimack have temporarily closed while officials monitor water quality.

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If you were planning to swim, kayak, paddleboard, fish, or let your dog play in the river, health officials recommend avoiding contact with the water until testing confirms it's safe again.

The good news is that drinking water systems are separate from the wastewater system, so residents' tap water remains safe.

It's a reminder of just how connected New England's waterways really are. Something that happens upstream in Massachusetts can affect communities, beaches, and recreation all the way downriver, including places many Granite Staters visit every summer.

"I wonder how much $#!+ is under my boat right now?" was the first thing a buddy of mine who keeps his boat on the Merrimack River in Newburyport said this morning.

We laughed... for about two seconds.

Then he said, "That's not a joke."

My buddy wasn't asking me that question as an engineer or an environmental scientist.

He was asking as a guy who loves being on the river.

And honestly... I think a lot of boat owners, anglers, and families along the Merrimack are probably wondering the exact same thing this morning.

I don't know about you, but when I think about summer in New England, I picture people fishing, kayaking, boating, tubing, and cooling off along the Merrimack River.

If you have plans on the Merrimack this week, it's worth checking for the latest water quality updates before heading out.