Boston health officials have dropped a stink bomb of a warning for locals: steer clear of various waterways following a spate of sewage overflows that put public health at risk. The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) and Boston Water and Sewer Commission announced that several sites experienced discharges starting earlier today due to systems overwhelmed by a substantial storm, according to the news from the City of Boston.
As the muck hit the fan, two sites in particular were highlighted: the MWRA Outflow MWR203 at Prison Point in Charlestown and two from the Boston Water and Sewer: one at Outfall BOS003 in East Boston and another at Outfall BOS070 in the Fort Point Channel, according to the official warnings posted by authorities. The ongoing discharge at Prison Point began at 3:18 a.m., while the East Boston and Fort Point overflows started at 2:45 a.m. and 4:15 a.m., respectively, only to cease several hours later. The public is advised to outright avoid these affected areas for at least 48 hours after the sewage stops flowing.
The advisories, which were a regulatory requirement due to the discharges' duration and the health risks they pose, state that such overflows can happen when the combined sewerage system—a single pipeline for both stormwater and wastewater—gets flooded with stormwater. This kind of overflow is a safety measure to prevent sewage from backing into homes and businesses.
Boasting grit but nary a whiff of glamour, these discharges are a raw reminder of the infrastructural challenges faced in urban stormwater management. As the city grapples to keep pace with the storms, residents are urged to follow guidelines rigorously. It is recommended that they stay away from the water bodies for 48 hours post-overflow but also during and after rainstorms to avoid health risks from contaminants. The affected waters in question mark the upper Inner Harbor along Charlestown and the lower reaches near Jeffries Point and the downtown waterfront.
For those wishing to keep a nose out for the latest news in the wake of these events, information and updates can be sniffed out on the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority website and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission site. In a city historic for upturn and revolution, the tide of public health and infrastructure continues to turn—a fact laid bare by the recent rush of wastewater into Boston's lifeblood waterways.
