Thursday, May 18, 2006

Mayor Announces Haverhill Waste-Water Treatment Plant is Back in Operation

Emergency By Pass Connection Completed

Mayor James J. Fiorentini today announced that as of 3 pm today, the emergency bypass line had been connected to the sewage treatment plant, and the plant was back on line.

Fiorentini said that crews worked through the night the past five nights to complete the operation as quickly as possible. The plant was originally scheduled to go back on line Friday, but the crews were able to complete the operation ahead of schedule.

As of Sunday, the plant was taken out of service when severe storm runoff caused the main trunk line into the plant to fail. Since that time, raw sewage has been flowing from the broken trunk line into the Merrimack River. Emergency crews began work immediately to hookup an emergency bypass line, and on Tuesday evening, the Mayor requested an emergency appropriation of $1 million to make the repairs. As of 3 pm today, the line was back in service. The city hooked up an emergency line bypassing the permanent trunk line. A more permanent fix could take as long as two months, but the plant is fully operational in the interim.

Mayor Fiorentini praised the prompt work of the waste-water department and the private companies making the repairs.

“Acting Superintendent Bob Ward and his crew at the waste water department did a terrific job. They had crews in operation on Sunday, within an hour after the break, working in the rainstorm to restore service. Crews worked throughout the night, often working two or three shifts, to make certain that service was restored. By moving quickly, these hardworking crews were able to avoid an environmental disaster. It is the type of efficient government that our citizens deserve, and I am proud of our crew that was able to deliver service ahead of schedule. ”