Hudson River Sewage Spill Could Impact Ironman Triathlon (Updated)
A sewer line break in Tarrytown, New York has resulted in several million gallons of chlorinated raw sewage to be released into the Hudson River just in time for Saturday's Ironman Challenge.
Due to a break in the Tarrytown, New York sewer line, Westchester County Executive Robert Astorino has issued a warning advising people who use the Hudson River waters for recreational purposes such as swimming, boating, kayaking and windsurfing to avoid direct contact with the water from Croton Point Park and points south until further notice.
Officials have not yet determined if this will affect the swimming portion of Saturday's U.S. Ironman Challenge that will take place in Fort Lee. The competition includes a 2.4 mile swim in the Hudson River.
According to Westchester County officials, the break has caused the "controlled release of several milliion gallons of chlorinated raw sewage" into the Hudson River at Sleepy Hollow Wednesday night. Officials said that diverting the treated sewage is necessary in order to make repairs to the sewer line. It is also expected that the sewer line break will result in the discharge of chlorinated raw sewage into the Hudson River at Yonkers.
The Rockland County Department of Health also issued a warning to people who use the Hudson River for recreational purposes to avoid direct contact with the water from Rockland Lake State Park and points south until further notice.
Updated 8/9/2012 12:05: According to Bloomberg News organizers for the 140.6-mile triathlon. Organizers are monitoring the water quality and direction of the current in the river. A decision on whether the race is shortened to the bike and run portions would be made by tomorrow at the latest, race organizer John Korff said.
In a telephone interview with Bloomberg News, Korff said, “We’re not messing with water quality. It is what it is -- it’s either yes or no. It depends which way the water is flowing. Athletes will know at least the day before.”
Patch will continue to provide updates on this story.
William Mays
1:36 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Wow, what a bunch of assholes, they knew the event was to go down on Saturday and they release all this crap.
Donna Brennan
4:57 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
Billy, this was documented as accidental, not as sewer spillage released on purpose albeit knowing there was a race on Saturday.
First, I have to think, our "poor" beautiful Hudson River. How awful for this to have occurred in the first place. Then, can several millions of gallons of "chemical" spillage be cleaned up by race time Saturday? Questionable, at best.
Other questions that come to mind is, when will the Hudson River be at a "no current" status again for the swimmers? What is the Ironman "Triathlon" without all three components of the race? They can't do the swim portion on another day. Best case scenario would be to have the swimmers at another location, but, where? This would only add confusion and other towns would not be prepared on such short notice for the onslaught of competitors and the huge amounts of spectators this race will bring in. Fort Lee, took months of preparation for the Ironman. This is just so tragic on so many levels.
Maybe, this has to do with the "Ghost of St. Rocco". Actually, I'm just being facetious. No saint would be that destructive.
William Mays
5:01 pm on Thursday, August 9, 2012
They said that the sewage was diverted there.
Quint
9:10 am on Friday, August 10, 2012
diverted so they can fix the break.
carol simon
12:04 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
I have confidence that a little more sewage in the Hudson River. although suspect of sabotage, will not poop on our parade! These athletes are prepared to sink or swim. One way or another, The Ironman Triathalon must press on!
Legal Notice
4:57 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
rather ironic that they would protect the swimmers but not the rest of the public who is eating the filth at the Ft Lee Fair
William Mays
5:45 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
The food tastes fine, get a life.