IMPORTANT MESSAGE - City of Haverhill - 42-Inch Sewer Force Main Break

42-Inch Sewer Force Main Break

June 27, 2026

Overview

Last night at approximately 9:00 p.m., during the torrential rainstorm, the City experienced a break in a
42-inch sewer force main near the City's main pumping station.

This force main transports wastewater from the main pumping station to the wastewater treatment plant.
During the storm, exceptionally heavy rainfall caused wastewater flows to increase rapidly, placing
significantly greater demand on this critical pipeline.

Wastewater personnel responded immediately and have been working continuously since last night. As
we were investigating the damage today, we discovered a second break on the force main. That discovery
has expanded the repair to a second area and requires additional assessment to determine needed repairs.
The City's priorities are to protect public health, stop the discharge into the Merrimack River as quickly as
possible, maintain sewer service to the community, and complete a safe and permanent repair.

What Happened

The City's wastewater collection system gathers wastewater from homes and businesses and conveys it to
the main pumping station. From there, wastewater is pumped under pressure through the 42-inch force
main to the wastewater treatment plant.

Unlike most sewer pipes that rely on gravity, a force main is a pressurized pipeline. When it fails,
wastewater escapes before it reaches the treatment plant.

During last night's storm, wastewater flows increased dramatically because of the intense rainfall. While
the pumping station continued operating normally, the force main failed near the pumping station.

Crews initially identified one break and immediately began contacting contractors to assess the damage.As investigation continued today, a second break on the same force main was discovered. The second
break was not visible initially and was only identified after walking the force main line.

The discovery of the second break indicates that the damaged area is larger than originally believed. It
does not mean the entire pipeline has failed, but it does require more extensive repair. Before repairs can
begin, crews must fully evaluate the damaged section to ensure all affected areas are repaired before the
force main is returned to service.

Current Conditions

Because of the two breaks, untreated wastewater is being discharged into the Merrimack River
downstream of the Haverhill’s downtown area instead of reaching the wastewater treatment plant.

The City's sewer system remains fully operational. Residents and businesses continue to have normal
sewer service, and there is no interruption anticipated at this time.

The City's drinking water system is completely separate from the wastewater system and has not been
affected. Drinking water remains safe for all residents and businesses.

The City has notified the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and all other required regulatory agencies in accordance with
state and federal requirements.

Response Efforts

The City's immediate objective is to stop the discharge into the Merrimack River while maintaining sewer
service throughout the community. Because this is one of the City's largest and most critical wastewater
pipelines, the repair must be completed carefully and correctly. Simply shutting down the pumping station
is not an option because it serves thousands of homes and businesses. Doing so would potentially cause
wastewater to back up into the collection system, potentially resulting in sewer backups and additional
overflows elsewhere in the City.

The discovery of the second break requires crews to evaluate a larger repair area than originally
anticipated. While this adds complexity to the repair, it is important that all damaged sections are
identified and repaired before the pipeline is returned to service. Completing a thorough repair now will
reduce the risk of another failure after the line is placed back into operation.

Investigation

At this time, the exact cause of the failures remains under investigation. The breaks occurred during a
period of exceptionally heavy rainfall and unusually high wastewater flows. Once repairs are complete,
the City will conduct an evaluation of the pipeline to determine the cause of the failures and identify any
underlying factors that may have contributed.

The City will also be calculating the volume of wastewater discharged and will provide that information
to regulatory agencies as required.

Public Information

Residents and businesses do not need to take any action and may continue using their water and sewer
service normally.

Out of an abundance of caution, the public should avoid contact with the Merrimack River in the
immediate vicinity and downstream of the discharge until repairs have been completed and the discharge
has stopped.

Our Department of Public Works personnel, engineers, and contractors have been working continuously
since the break occurred. Their focus is protecting public health, stopping the discharge into the
Merrimack River as quickly as possible, maintaining sewer service for the community, and restoring this
critical infrastructure safely and permanently.

The City understands the public's concern and is committed to keeping residents informed as repairs
progress and additional information becomes available.