by Christine Quirk | July 31, 2024 | The Concord Bridge

A no-contact warning is out for the Concord and Sudbury Rivers for the next 48 hours because of a sewage overflow that could pose health dangers.

The Framingham Wastewater Division reported Wednesday that approximately 525,000 gallons of untreated sewage had overflowed between 4:30 and 9 p.m. Tuesday.

Because the overflow potentially affected the rivers, Framingham officials advised avoiding touching the water for the next two days “due to increased health risks from bacteria and other pollutants.”

“We’ve posted a warning up at the boat launch,” Concord Public Health Director Melanie Dineen said. “It’s not a significant health concern unless you consume a large amount. We want people to be alerted but not alarmed.”

The overflow resulted from a break in a sewer pipe on Worcester Road in Framingham, said Susan Petroni of Framingham’s public information office.

“The pipe broke in an area near the Sudbury River, and resulted in wastewater entering the river,” Petroni emailed in response to an inquiry from The Concord Bridge.

It took about 4.5 hours to repair the pipe and stop the sewage spill, she said.

Petroni said Framingham officials will work with their Conservation Commission and Health Department to implement mitigation measures.

According to Melissa Simoncini of Concord’s Water and Sewer Division, “All downstream health departments are notified when you have a certain level of release.”

Simoncini said this was the first time there has been an incident this big since the notification program launched in 2022.

This announcement comes as OARS, a watershed organization for the Sudbury, Concord, and Assabet rivers, celebrated bringing portions of the waterways back to swimmable status.

In June, the organization released its 2023 3 Rivers Report Card, giving a B- grade to the rivers, and designated the upper Concord River as “suitable for swimming,” according to a news release.

Published in The Concord Bridge on July 31, 2024: Link to published story