Norwalk Shellfish Commission notes two shellfish closures and two sewer bypasses in February

Bill, the Department of Health representative, reported to the Norwalk Shellfish Commission that February rainfall totaled 3.31 inches, above last year's 2.29 inches and slightly above the historical February average of 2.91 inches. He said the city recorded two shellfish-area closures tied to rainfall: Feb. 9 (Cook's Ground) when rainfall exceeded 0.5 inches, and Feb. 16 when rainfall exceeded 1.6 inches and led to a broader closure.

Bill also reported two sanitary sewer bypasses in February. On Feb. 14 a sewer backup released effluent into a catch basin for roughly 30 minutes before crews vacuumed it up, and on Feb. 16 a pump failure at the Westport pump station allowed effluent into Wheeler Creek for about an hour and a half before the issue was corrected. Bill said the events were short-lived and that response crews contained the discharges.

Sergeant Pasegli added that a small work boat sank at a private dock overnight and leaked an estimated two to three gallons of gasoline into the harbor; responders boomed the spill quickly and reported no further issues. Bill reported current water temperatures near 36 degrees Fahrenheit.

Commissioners recorded the report and the commission will receive routine updates; no regulatory actions were taken during the meeting.