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WPCNR BEACH & HARBOR REPORT. By John F. Bailey. July 16, 2013:

Peter DeLutia, Deputy Commissioner of Public Health Protection for Westchester County, explained to WPCNR the sewage slude break that has prompted the County to close beaches in Mamaroneck and Rye appears to have been caused by a sewage pipe  7 feet underground, laid in 1978 or 79 breaking for unknown reasons in Blind Brook. No construction or escavating or “Call before you dig” violation was involved Delutia told WPCNR.

Delutia speculated it could be ” weakened pipe, corrosion, undermining underneath the pipe shifting.” He said the pipe had been escavated by this afternoon, but county crews would have to wait until high tide tomorrow before they would be able to begin replacement of the pipe;

He said it was discovered by residents of the area walking on a trail, who spotted “bubbling” above ground. DeLutia said there was no telling exactly when the pipe broke. “Sometimes it takes a long time (for the effluent) to come up (to the surface),” Delutia explained.

The pipe runs along Blind Brook and goes to a sewage treatment plant in Port Chester.

DeLutia said Rye Playland Beach is not affected because of the topography of the area.

Persons 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   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.