The Cayuga County Health Department is advising members of the community to not swim in the Owasco River due to the discharge of stormwater and partially treated wastewater into the river. Health officials say due to excessive rain on Tuesday, two combined sewer overflow facilities in the City of Auburn discharged the partially treated wastewater into the river. These combined sewer overflows are permitted to discharge by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, health officials said.

According to the health department, the first discharge happened at 1 Miller St. at 2:16 p.m. and lasted for around 37 minutes releasing 30,552 gallons into the Owasco River. The second discharge occurred at 20 Genesee St. at 2:16 p.m. and lasted for approximately 35 minutes releasing 30,000 gallons.

Due to these discharges, partially treated wastewater has entered the Owasco River. Wastewater may contain disease-causing pathogens, health officials said. The Owasco River water is not regulated by the Cayuga County Health Department and the area of the discharge should be avoided. If you choose to do activities in an unregulated body of water, you should avoid getting water in your mouth, wash you hands afterwards, and shower once you return home.

These permitted discharges do not affect the public drinking water source (Owasco Lake) as the discharge is downstream and flows north.