Haverhill sewage leak closes some Massachusetts beaches and a shellfish company: "Stopped all of my business."

Some North Shore beaches in Massachusetts have been forced to close because of sewage overflows into the Merrimack River.

Two wastewater leaks in Haverhill have caused the sewage overflows, which have also forced at least one business to shut down temporarily. The city said the leaks were caused by breaks in two lines following torrential rain last Friday.

Haverhill Department of Public Works Director Bob Ward said eight million gallons of sewage come through their treatment plant on a typical day, but the rain brought in 60 to 65 million gallons. They're now building a temporary bypass, but that can only operate at 30 million.

"It's better than nothing, and the day-to-day dry weather flow will be covered easily," said Ward. "We're setting up two, so if we get rain and the flow comes up with the rain, we will be able to handle some of the rain and combined sewer."

Despite the bypass plans, Ward admits that another round of heavy rain could strain the system. 

The city said the temporary bypass is expected to cost $2 million to $3 million. They will also be conducting a full assessment of the pipelines. DPW said fixing the whole line could push the cost north of $10 million if they have to do a complete repair.

"We hope to have [the bypass] done by Wednesday, so we stop putting [wastewater] into the river, that way people can have 4th of July down river," said Haverhill Mayor Melinda Bennett. "This treatment plant was put in the 1970s. These pipes were laid in the 70s after the Clean Water Act."

The results from the water testing are expected Tuesday. Authorities will then decide if the beaches near Plum Island need to stay closed.

"Money out, nothing coming in"

The Great Marsh Shellfish Company in Rowley, Massachusetts is nestled in the marshes along the Rowley River. Its operation is only accessed by boat. They're one of the very few oyster farms on the North Shore and now they aren't operating at all because of the wastewater.

"I got a text from my local shellfish constable this morning that he got the notice from the Department of Marine Fisheries that we are going to be shutting down all of the shellfish areas on the North Shore," owner Brenden Doyle told WBZ-TV.

Doyle's production has been halted indefinitely. His goal is to harvest 10,000 oysters a week. They just planted their spring crop last week. 

"Until this gets fixed, we don't have any revenue coming in. All the revenue going out. We still have to care for the oysters, still have to maintain our crop, so it's money out, and nothing is coming in," said Doyle.

Now customers are canceling orders during one of their busiest times of the year.

"Those orders are going to other providers," Doyle said. " Luckily, right now we are in a precautionary closure for my area where my farm is located. None of the sewage has come and impacted my farm directly, but the closure has stopped all of my business and I have to pay my employees."

His hope now is that the wastewater dilutes in Ipswich Bay and doesn't head his way. 

Massachusetts beaches closed due to sewage

• Ipswich: Crane — CSO/SSO event
• Ipswich: Little Neck — CSO/SSO event
• Ipswich: Pavilion at Main Street — CSO/SSO event
• Ipswich: Sandy Point - Plum Island at North and South — CSO/SSO event
• Ipswich: Steep Hill — CSO/SSO event
• Newburyport: Plum Island at 55th Street, End of Island 1, End of Island 2 and Plum Island Point — CSO/SSO event
• Salisbury: Salisbury Beach Center at Broadway Street, Salisbury Beach at Main — CSO/SSO event