174,000-Gallon Sanitary Sewer Overflow Near 299 Great Rd. Stopped Wednesday Morning

*DPW workers were working on fixing the overflow problem since early Tuesday. Staff Photo Wayne Braverman*

Updated by the Bedford Department of Public Works on Wednesday, Dec. 20:

At approximately 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 19, a sanitary sewer overflow near 299 Great Rd. was identified by the Bedford Department of Public Works. The overflow continued for 12 hours and it is estimated that a volume of 174,000 gallons of discharge was released before it ceased at approximately 12:15 a.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 20. The overflow likely consists of untreated sewage and waste.

Potentially affected municipalities include Bedford, Billerica, and Burlington, and potentially affected water bodies including the Shawsheen River.

Avoid contact with these water bodies for 48 hours due to increased health risks from bacteria and other pollutants.