Quincy accused of dumping sewage in harbor, waterways Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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CITY OF QUINCY CLAIMING IT’S , DUMPING SEWAGE INTO BOSTON HARBOR AND OTHER WATERWAYS. NEW ON 5, NEWSCENTER 5’S JOHN ATWATER WITH THE MAYOR’S RESPOS JOHN: PEOPLE KNOW THIS IS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR DECADES, BUT THE CITY SAYS THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT TO FIX THE ISSUES. THE BACKDROP IS BEAUTIFUL. BUT LURKING IN THE WATER IS A DANGER THAT’S WELL KNOWN. >> WOULD YOU WANT YOUR KIDS TO PLAY IN THIS AREA. THAT’S WHY WE GO TO NANTASKET. JOHN: HIGH E. COLI LEVELS CAN PROMPT BEACH CLOSURES IN THE SUMMER AND NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING AFTER THE CITY OF QUINCY. >> QUITE FRANKLY I’M OUTRAGED AT THE ACTION. JOHN: THE MAYOR SAYS THESE PROJECT BINDERS SHOW THE CITY’S BEEN WORKING WITH THE EPA FOR YEARS NOW TO REPAIR SEWAGE LINES SO THEY DON’T LEAK INTO STORM WATER SYSTEMS AND ULTIMATELY INTO STREAMS, RIVERS AND THE OCEAN. >> THE CITY HAS SPENT TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE LAST DECADE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS WE FACE ENVIRONMENTALLY. JOHN: BUT THE EPA SAYS IT ISN’T ENOUGH, NOW SUING THE CITY AND THREATENING HUNDREDS O THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN FINES. MAYOR WALSH: I DON’T WANT TO BE IN THAT POSITION TO LAYING OFF TEACHERS OR FIREMEN BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MEET A CERTAIN QUOTA. >> THERE HAS BEEN AN IMPROVEMENT. JOHN: SOME WHO LIVE HERE SAY THEY’VE SEEN PROGRESS, AND THEY MAYOR SAYS THOSE EFFORTS WILL CONTINUE. >> THE BEACHES ARE CLEANER THAN THAN T

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