Million-Gallon Sewage Spill In N.Y. River

(AP)  A broken 48-inch underground pipe sent up to 2 million gallons of raw sewage spilling into the Hudson River north of New York City as workers scrambled Saturday to repair the damage.

Westchester County health officials warned boaters, water skiers and skin divers to stay out of the river due to potential health problems presented by the sewage. The pipe broke Friday afternoon, apparently ruptured by a tree that came loose during a landslide near the Greystone Train Station in Yonkers, officials said.

"It's anticipated at this time that it will have minimal impact on the environment," said Maureen Wren, spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. "But we will continue to monitor the situation."

The broken line carries 4 million gallons of sewage daily from Irvington to a pumping station in Yonkers, and Weschester County Health Department spokeswoman Mary Landrigan. As much as 2 million gallons could escape before the line is repaired, she added.

Landrigan said repair crews hoped to fix the breach at some point Saturday. She could not say how far along the Hudson the sewage might spread, but said residents along the river in Westchester and Rockland counties should be aware of the problem.

According to Wren, crews were also using pumps to remove standing sewage in the area around the train station. The Greystone station, on the Hudson Line, is about 18 miles north of Grand Central Terminal.

Service on the Metro-North railroad was not affected by the broken main, and the surrounding neighborhoods were experiencing no problems, said Landrigan.

People who risk contact with the water on the Hudson could end up with gastrointestinal problems, leading health officials to advise people to spend this weekend on land.

[gunnerone2]

Vladimir Putin did it.

[asor1-2009]

"People who risk contact with the water on the Hudson could end up with gastrointestinal problems, leading health officials to advise people to spend this weekend on land."
Any particular weekend? Oh, all of them. I see.

[snopes1]

By the way, as someone who lives in the immediate area and takes the Metro North from the Greystone stop. The spill did not happen on Friday. Officials attempted to pump the area of "water" for a couple days before. Where did they pump it you ask? We'll from the low point where the standing water was up into the street where it flowed across and then eventually into the storm drains. Where do those storm drains go..into the Hudson of course. So if 2 million gallons spilled into the Hudson, One million gallons must have come from when the city/county pumped from the evolving 'mangrove swamp' low point with it's blue/grey hue, up onto the Metro North commuter parking lot area and into the storm drains. I guess the good 'ol NYS DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) failed to see that for two days or turned a blind eye. Its neither here nor there at this point. Just someone get the facts straight. It did not happen on Friday afternoon but rather a day or two before and raw sewage was pumped up and across the parking area and eventually into the Hudson rather than containing it into a tanker truck.
In their defense, maybe they did not know there was a break in the main..maybe they all had no sense of smell for those couple days and/or were blind to the sight hue of the water to boot.

[fizzal-2009]

I want my boating and fishing license money back.

[hazelknows]

Hillary Clinton will blame President Bush for the sewage spill.
Posted by jfebiala at 05:18 PM : May 05, 2007

with all the *** flowing out of the shrubs mouth, why not. and to think the New Yorkers thought the smell was Giuliani.

[jfebiala]

Hillary Clinton will blame President Bush for the sewage spill.

[inventagod2]

THIS IS NEWS?

[ramos937]

In the 1970's, Iron Eyes Cody, a full bloodied indian in full indian dress made a powerful commercial. He was filmed from a distance looking at a polluted landscape shaking his head and then in a gradual closeup, his face was shown with tears gently streaming down his face. If he was still alive and close to the NY location, he would suffer again.

[nothappyatall]

"officials warned boaters, water skiers and skin divers to stay out of the river due to potential health problems presented by the sewage."

UGH, anyone still swims in that toilet around Manhattan? it was used in the 19th century and before AS the city's toilet, all the waste from people and horses was flushed into the rivers. When the bridges were built on the East river the divers had to wade through incredible filth, garbage, raw sewage, remains of long processed fish from the Fulton st fish markets, you name it it was there.
All the runoff from the dirty streets and storm sewers also winds up in the rivers.

Even in the 70's we used to see what we all popularly called "Hudson River whitefish" floating around the shores- this was no fish, but the hint is you buy these in the store in various sizes, ribbed, non ribbed, lubed, and throw them away or flush them when you and your mate are done using it.
They basically came out of the sewers and latex doesnt break down so they just float with the tides.
Anyone would be nuts to swim in either river.

[hazelknows]

do people really boat, water ski, swim and skin dive in this, even before this incidence, cesspool river? I heard it is the most polluted US river.