The Connecticut River has been the recipient of millions of gallons of wastewater that have been dumped into it.
Our neighbors in Massachusetts have caused it to occur previously.
Jasin Crowley of Enfield noticed that the water level had risen slightly. He speculated that the increase in water level might have contributed to the catfish’s increased biting behavior. According to Jasin, catfish are attracted to unpleasant smells, so the rise in water level might have something to do with it. During his fishing trip in the river, he managed to catch a four-pound catfish.
This week, the sewer systems in Holyoke released a total of six million gallons of wastewater into the Connecticut River.
John Bair of Higganum exclaimed, “We need someone to take action!”
For years, Bair has been seething with anger about this issue.
Several sewer systems in Massachusetts are over a century old and function by collecting both sewage and stormwater in a single pipe.
During a storm, excessive rainfall and sewage can overwhelm the plants, leading to an overflow of contaminated water in Connecticut. This can result in the pollution of the river with harmful bacteria, a scenario that occurs frequently.
According to Bair, the river water has caused him to suffer from multiple infections and undergo various operations. He has had extensive discussions with the CDC regarding this issue.
Bair expressed her frustration, saying, “This can’t be happening just to me. Even my foot doctor won’t allow me to get in the water.”
When Eyewitness News expressed concerns about the issue, they contacted the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) for further information.
According to DEEP, they do not think that the overflows from Massachusetts will directly affect the residents of Connecticut by the time the wastewater flows down to their state.
According to DEEP, these overflows happen when there’s wet weather and precipitation runoff mixes with the overflows, diluting them in the process. The CT River, being a large river, has a good level of mixing and dilution.
However, those who enjoy boating, fishing, and swimming in this area do not believe this statement.
According to Bair, the water is dumped every week, making it difficult to determine when it is safe to take a dip.
Holyoke is collaborating with the EPA to tackle the problem of wastewater dumping, which is regulated by the agency in Massachusetts.
