A severe wastewater leak in Haverhill, Massachusetts, is discharging roughly 8 million gpd of raw sewage into the Merrimack River after torrential rains ruptured a 42-inch pipe in two places. In response to the crisis, local officials and Gov. Maura Healey have mobilized a government-wide effort to construct a temporary bypass line.
While regional beaches technically remain open for land-based celebrations and boating, authorities have strictly prohibited swimming due to hazardous levels of fecal bacteria, with one testing site registering E. coli concentrations 40 times above the safety limit. The contamination has forced downstream communities to close swimming areas and prompted an emergency halt on shellfish harvesting across several nearby towns.
EPA Proposes Monitoring Requirements for 30 Unregulated Contaminants
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is proposing monitoring requirements for 30 unregulated contaminants in the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR).
The proposed list of unregulated contaminants is being announced for public comment. It contains 30 chemicals, including certain PFAS. Once the rule is finalized, EPA will collect and release data on these chemicals from sampled public water systems.
The Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies released a statement supporting the EPA's draft rule. "AMWA supports EPA’s efforts to engage stakeholders through the release of the draft sixth UCMR. The association looks forward to closely reviewing the full list of contaminants and associated analytical methods in the proposal, and welcomes the opportunity to provide robust comments to the agency as it begins the next five-year UCMR cycle.”
Albuquerque Launches Water Conservation Scavenger Hunt
In an interesting bit of public outreach from a water utility, the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, is hosting an interactive scavenger hunt designed to teach families about sustainable living and preserving water.
Coordinated by the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, the "Rio Rally" sends solo players and teams to 28 different civic and cultural sites, such as local museums and libraries. Upon arriving at these destinations, participants scan a QR code to reveal a secret password, which they can then exchange with a staff member for a special sticker to earn points.
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