Update: Beach Open After Testing Shows Water Safe For Swimming

EAST HAVEN, CT — After the 2-million-gallon spill of raw sewage into the Mill River, and Long Island Sound this week forced officials to close beaches and shellfishing areas, health officials are re-tested the water at the East Haven town beach Friday afternoon and it was deemed safe.

"Water quality testing has indicated that the water is now safe for swimming and fishing. East Haven town beaches are now open for swimming and fishing," the town announced.

For updates on beach and shell fishing openings/closures in the area, please visit the East Shore District Health Department website.

While closed, some could not keep away.

"Couldn’t believe how many people were swimming last night after the beach was closed," one wrote on a community page.

On Wednesday, the Greater New Haven Waste Water Treatment Plant confirmed the sewage was "released" into the river. The East Shore Health Department posted a notice about the closures on its website.

“Unfortunately due to a leak that was not immediately stopped in New Haven the nearly 2 million gallons of untreated sewage was discharged into the water," East Haven Mayor Joseph A. Carfora said Wednesday. “The beaches unfortunately need to be close for several days to fishing, shell fishing and swimming.”

The conservation group Save the Sound said it learned of the leak Tuesday.

"We received word that a sewer main break was spilling raw sewage into the Mill River below the Whitney Dam in Hamden," the group wrote on Facebook. "The pipe has been fixed, but not before 2 million gallons of raw sewage flowed into the river."

Save the Sound said it is monitoring the situation, and "Soundkeeper Bill Lucey is on the lower Mill River (Wednesday) morning to take water samples."

The results from that have not yet been posted on the group's Facebook page.