After a pipe carrying waste from a pumping station cracked, nearly 100,000 gallons of raw sewage ended up in the Weymouth Back River in Weymouth, Massachusetts. The spill, which was discovered on April 18, took nearly 24 hours until it was completely shut down.
Because the station is adjacent to the river, the sewage was seeping through the ground and draining into the body of water. Much of the spill has already made its way into the water, so the Department of Environmental Protection is now investigating the spill to determine the severity of the case.
The river is made up of ponds and swamps and is used for recreational activities such as kayaking. There were some dead fish reported – however, the number was fairly low. Officials noticed that the sewage spill did have an effect on the herring migration, but they do not think the damage will have a permanent impact on the river’s ecosystem.
