Wastewater Plants Spill Sewage in Merrimack River

NASHUA, N.H. - Last year, five treatment plants along the 117-mile Merrimack River reported 439 discharges according to data compiled by environmental regulators in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. According to the Salem News, the sewage came from about 50 overflow pipes from combined sewer systems along the river.

The Greater Lawrence Sanitary District in North Andover — which processes waste from Lawrence, Methuen, Andover, North Andover, Dracut and Salem, New Hampshire — released at least 16 million gallons of sewage into the river last year, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

In New Hampshire, the Manchester treatment plant was one of the worst polluters in terms of quantity among five facilities along the Merrimack, releasing an estimated 227 million gallons of sewage through 15 outfalls, according to the state Department of Environmental Services.

Nashua’s wastewater treatment plant reported about 9 million gallons in sewage discharges, according to the agency.

To read the full article, visit the Salem News.

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