As a precaution, the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities asked Consolidated Edison to cut power to the Yonkers Wastewater Treatment Plant at 8:45 p.m. Monday, due to flooding in the plant, both to protect equipment and for the safety of employees. As a result, partially treated sewage is entering the Hudson River.
After high tide subsides, during the overnight hours, workers at the plant expect to begin pumping out the basement in preparation for returning the plant to full operation. The Department of Environmental Facilities will be able to determine after that point about how much partially treated sewage entered the Hudson.
At 10:50 p.m., the North Yonkers pump station became flooded and its pumps went out of service, allowing screened raw sewage to be released to the Hudson River until further notice.
All relevant authorities have been notified.
The Westchester County Department of Health is advising people who use the Hudson River waters for recreational purposes, namely swimmers, boaters, kayakers and windsurfers to avoid direct contact with the water because of this from the New York City line to Tarrytown until further notice.