On Friday, August 3, 2018, the Northampton Wastewater Treatment Plant at 33 Hockanum Road experienced a power outage due to severe weather in the area.
This power outage caused multiple electrical failures at the plant, including failures to emergency power systems, alarm and notification systems and critical mechanical and pumping systems. These failures collectively caused a release of primary treated effluent to the Old Mill River bed, which in turn discharges to the Connecticut River.
At this time, there is no further discharge of primary treated effluent and secondary disinfection treatment has been reestablished.
We are working as quickly as possible to completely restore all treatment processes and are working with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to ensure appropriate communication, remedial action and regulatory compliance.
The Northampton Health Department advises that the public should wait 48 hours before swimming in the Connecticut River downstream of the Plant.
