Yacht club demands action as sewage overflows into Agawam marina

Recent rain brought more sewage overflow into the Connecticut River and Springfield Yacht and Canoe Club members are upset. 22 News reporter Sarah Bianami joins us live in studio to share what they want leaders to do. Christina Ciara, this ripple effect that's hurting us now will impact everyone down the entire Connecticut River. Members of the Springfield Yacht and Canoe Club have dealt with sewage backups in the Connecticut River for a while, but Tuesday's storm took it to a whole new level. Here's what one member caught on camera Wednesday afternoon. This is the marina after yesterday's rain and the combined sewer and storm water. Their Agawam Marina was trashed with toilet paper, wipes, tampons and condoms blanketing the water around the boat launches. 22 News went back Thursday and saw trash still left behind. We don't know what's in the waste that's coming down for parasites or any other kind of viruses that could be in the waste. Now with the sewage overflow building up along the docks and boats it not only creates health hazards but also takes up time to clean up the mess. Members don't really want to go out in their boats and they really can't walk into any kind of water to get to their boats because of the waste. With the weekend coming up fast they're scrambling for solutions for Mass DEP, Agawam Health and Springfield Water and Sewer. To have them come here and clean up the mess and stop dumping. In a statement to 22 News the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission said in part quote the commission has met on sites with representatives of the Yacht Club and is working collaboratively toward a resolution to the immediate situation. The commission says it has made significant progress in reducing overflows. There's also substantial regional investment required to achieve further reductions along the Connecticut River. The commission has spent over 300 million dollars to fix the combined sewer overflow since the 1990s. Working for you Sarabian and Mag 22 News.