Long Island Sound Off Limits Due to Sludge Main Break

The Westchester County Department of Health is advising all recreational boaters and swimmers in Rye Harbor, Milton Harbor and Greenhaven, in Rye, and in Mamaroneck Harbor to avoid contact with Long Island Sound until further notice due to an ongoing sludge force main break. There will be no swimming at these beaches on July 16 and until further notice: Beach Point Club, Orienta Beach Club, Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, Shore Acres Pointe and Harbor Island Park Beach, all in Mamaroneck; and American Yacht Club, Shenorock Shore Club, Coveleigh Club and Greenhaven Association, all in Mamaroneck.

An underground force main break near Blind Brook has released sludge close to where the Blind Brook empties into Long Island Sound, in the vicinity of the Rye Marina on Stuyvesant Avenue near Milton Road in Rye. The Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities took the force main out of service at about 2:15 p.m., but repair efforts are hindered by high tide. Low tide begins at about 4:30 a.m. tomorrow and the department's contractor will be on site at that time to begin repairs. It is not known how much sludge has entered Long Island Sound due to the force main break.

The Westchester County Health Department will sample the water on July 16. Once results are received and evaluated, at the earliest on Wednesday afternoon, the health department will determine whether to reopen the beaches and lift the advisory or to sample the water again.