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1:00PM Update: Water has been turned back on and service has been restored to the area. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

State Street Area Water Construction Notice - Saturday, 7/25/26

The Department of Public Services Water Construction Division is currently repairing a water connection in the area of the Newburyport District Courthouse at 188 State Street. Area residents may experience a disruption in water service during the repair. Please visit the City’s website for the most up to date information. @cityofnewburyport @mayorseanreardon #nbpt #nbptdps taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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10 hours ago

Another project years in the making is now complete.

I’m excited to share that we’ve finished the Upper State Street Lighting Project with the installation of 18 new decorative lanterns, extending our downtown lighting further up State Street and creating a safer, more welcoming connection for residents, visitors, and our local businesses.

This project is about much more than new light fixtures. It improves visibility and accessibility, supports our downtown businesses, and replaces aging infrastructure with energy-efficient LED lighting that will serve our community for years to come.

This work is part of Phase 3 of our four-phase Downtown Lighting Project, which has already transformed lighting in our downtown parks and throughout State, Pleasant, and Green Streets. We’ll continue building on this progress with the final phase, bringing new lighting to Market Street, the Green Street parking lot, and Brown Square.

A huge thank you to our City Electrician, Jeff Mattheson, who has been an incredible asset since joining the City during my first term. His expertise and dedication have helped make projects like this possible. Thank you as well to DPS Director Kim Turner, whose leadership and planning were instrumental in bringing this project to completion.

I also want to thank the City Council for investing downtown paid parking funds into this important improvement, and the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce for their continued partnership and support as well as great business like @theporttavern @virtuejewelersatelier @banternbpt and @charlestonandcoco who advocated for the project.

It’s another investment in a downtown that is safer, more accessible, more sustainable, and ready to welcome everyone who visits Newburyport.

#newburyport #downtown #publicworks #infrastructure #smallbusiness taken in The Port Tavern by @nbpt_dps

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9 days ago

The DPS Highway and Parks Departments are joining forces to give downtown a fresh look in preparation for this Sunday’s 250th celebration! 🎉 From sprucing up green spaces to ensuring clean walkways, this collaborative effort showcases the power of teamwork in making our community shine. #Teamwork #Nbptdps #250thCelebration #Community 🇺🇸🎆 taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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10 days ago

Friday Merrimack River Update

Good afternoon. I’m pleased to share that the Newburyport side of Plum Island is now open for swimming starting Saturday morning.

After closely monitoring water quality data from the Merrimack River Watershed Council and our Health Department, we’ve seen consistent improvement, including seven straight days of clean test results at multiple locations.

Thank you to our Health Department for their daily testing and to our residents and visitors for your patience while we followed the data.

Swimming is once again allowed on the Newburyport side of Plum Island. Please continue to use good judgment, especially after heavy rainfall, and stay alert for any future advisories.

While this is great news, we know more work is needed to address aging wastewater infrastructure along the Merrimack River. We will continue advocating for long-term solutions to protect our communities.

Thank you again, and enjoy the beach safely. taken in Plum Island, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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15 days ago

Thursday Merrimack River Update

Good afternoon. I wanted to provide another update on water quality conditions in the Merrimack River.

Today’s results from the Merrimack River Watershed Council remained consistent with yesterday’s testing. We view that as encouraging news and another positive step in the right direction.

Over the past week, the City of Newburyport has taken a deliberate, data-driven approach to this situation. Our Health Department has now recorded six consecutive days of clean water quality tests at our Plum Island sampling locations. Out of an abundance of caution, we have kept the Newburyport side of Plum Island closed to swimming while we monitored bacteria levels throughout the river, particularly the data collected by the Merrimack River Watershed Council.

The river continues to recover from last week’s sewage discharge in Haverhill, and conditions appear to be steadily improving. We are going to wait one more day to review another round of testing before making a final decision. If tomorrow’s results continue this positive trend, we are hopeful that the Newburyport side of Plum Island will reopen for swimming on Saturday.

I know this has been frustrating for many residents and visitors, especially during the height of summer, but protecting public health has been our top priority from day one. I appreciate everyone’s patience and understanding as we’ve allowed the science and the data to guide our decisions.

I’ll provide another update tomorrow once the latest test results are available.

In other news, I want to thank Andi Egmont and the entire Recreation and Youth Services team for putting together a fantastic FIFA World Cup viewing party at Waterfront Park tonight. It was great to see so many residents come together to enjoy the match in one of our beautiful public spaces. Congratulations to France on its 2-0 victory! taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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16 days ago

Wednesday Merrimack River Update

Good afternoon. I wanted to share the latest water quality results from Tuesday’s sampling along the Merrimack River.

Overall, we’re continuing to see encouraging improvement in bacteria levels throughout the river system, with the exception of a slight uptick in West Newbury. You’ll find the latest data in the graphic attached.

It’s important to remember that these samples were collected early Tuesday morning, before the majority of yesterday’s rainfall. Even under normal conditions, we typically see bacteria levels increase after significant rain due to stormwater runoff, even when there are no combined sewer overflows.

Tomorrow’s results will give us a much better picture of how the rainfall impacted water quality. As we’ve said from the beginning, Newburyport will continue to take a data-driven approach. We will follow the science, continue daily testing, and make decisions based on protecting public health.

Thank you for your continued patience as we work through this situation. I’ll continue to keep everyone updated as new information becomes available. taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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17 days ago

What a rainy Tuesday. This afternoon we received another round of water quality testing results from the Merrimack River.

Overall, the news is encouraging. The elevated bacteria levels appear to be moving downstream toward the mouth of the river. While that is a positive trend, I want to emphasize that bacteria levels at the mouth remain extremely high. Out of an abundance of caution, Plum Island Point Beach will remain closed to swimming.
Over the next several days, we will continue closely monitoring conditions, including testing at Plum Island, to determine whether these elevated bacteria levels make their way into the ocean. We are also keeping a close eye on weather conditions, as rainfall can affect water quality results.

As always, Newburyport will continue to take a data driven approach. We will make decisions based on science and testing, not on a timeline. Protecting public health remains our top priority, and we will continue to keep everyone updated as new information becomes available.

#newburyport #plumisland #merrimackriver #publichealth taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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18 days ago

These are the latest test results from @mrwc_ . Still seeing elevated levels of bacteria in the mouth of the river. With rain forecasted for Tuesday we will have to keep an eye out for additional CSOs being released into the river. Plum Island Point still not open for swimming. taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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19 days ago

Good afternoon. Here are the latest water quality results for the Merrimack River.

As you can see, we are still seeing elevated bacteria levels from West Newbury all the way to the mouth of the river. Out of an abundance of caution, we will keep the Newburyport side of Plum Island closed to swimming until we see consistent test results showing that water quality has improved. Protecting public health will continue to be our top priority.

Now that both emergency bypasses are fully operational in Haverhill and the sewage discharge into the Merrimack River has stopped, our focus turns to understanding the long term impacts. The City of Newburyport will continue working closely with MassDEP and our local, state, and regional partners to develop a plan for ongoing monitoring and to assess the effects on the river and the communities along it.

Thank you for your patience and understanding as we continue to take a data driven approach. We will keep sharing updates as new information and test results become available.

#newburyport #merrimackriver #plumisland #publichealth #waterquality taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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20 days ago

As we head into the Fourth of July weekend, I wanted to share another update on the Merrimack River sewer discharge.

Newburyport will continue to take a data driven approach when making decisions about reopening our beaches and waterways. We are not going to rush this process. Protecting public health remains our top priority.

Our Health Department continues daily water quality testing at four locations around Plum Island, and we are working closely with the Merrimack River Watershed Council. Yesterday, 5 of the 7 locations tested by the Council exceeded acceptable bacteria levels, including Haverhill, West Newbury, Newburyport, and the Salisbury riverfront. Today’s testing showed 6 of the 7 locations exceeded the safe limit, reinforcing that while conditions may be improving upstream, water quality in our region has not yet consistently reached levels that would allow us to safely reopen our beaches and waterways.

There has been important progress in Haverhill. The first emergency bypass is now complete, and untreated sewage is no longer flowing into the Merrimack River from that location. Work on the second bypass continues, with completion expected tomorrow. Haverhill has also announced that its investigation into the cause of the failure will begin on Monday.

The Commonwealth has reopened all DCR beaches for swimming, and Newbury and Salisbury have also reopened their beaches. Newburyport’s beaches remain closed while we continue to evaluate local testing data and work closely with our state and regional partners.

I know everyone is eager to enjoy the water this holiday weekend, especially with the heat. I appreciate your patience as we make decisions based on science and local data, not the calendar. We will continue to keep everyone updated as new information becomes available.

#newburyport #merrimackriver #plumisland #publichealth #fourthofjuly taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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23 days ago

Extreme Heat Advisory: Wednesday through Friday

A period of dangerous heat and humidity is expected from Wednesday through Friday. Daytime high temperatures in the mid-90s to near 100°F, combined with high humidity, could produce heat index values of up to 110°F. Overnight temperatures will remain warm and muggy, providing little relief from the heat.

Cooling Centers

The City of Newburyport will have three cooling centers available for residents:
• Newburyport Public Library (94 State Street) – Open during regular business hours on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Newburyport Senior/Community Center (331 High Street) – Open during regular business hours on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Newburyport Salvation Army (40 Water Street) – Open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If temperatures remain in the 90s after 4:00 p.m., the center will remain open until 9:00 p.m. The Salvation Army will also provide lunch and dinner for all guests.

Stay Safe During the Heat

Please take the following precautions:
• Drink plenty of water and stay hydrated.
• Limit outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day.
• Spend time in air-conditioned buildings whenever possible.
• Check on elderly neighbors, family members, and others who may be vulnerable to extreme heat.
• Visit a cooling center if you need a safe, air-conditioned place to escape the heat.

For additional heat safety information and tips, visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s Preparing for Extreme Heat webpage. https://www.mass.gov/info-details/preparing-for-extreme-heat

Power Outages
Extreme temperatures may also place significant strain on the electrical grid. If you experience a power outage, please report it directly to National Grid by calling 1-800-465-1212.

Residents experiencing issues related to a power outage may also contact:
• Newburyport Police: (978) 462-4411
• Newburyport Fire: (978) 465-4427
• Call 911 for emergencies only.

Please take this heat seriously by staying cool, staying hydrated, and checking on neighbors, friends, and loved ones who may need assistance. by @nbpt_dps

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a month ago

City of Newburyport Department of Public Services employees Kevin, Shaun, and Tom M. did an incredible job painting the red, white, and blue crosswalks downtown along Water Street. Thank you for your hard work and creativity in bringing this project to life! ❤️🤍💙🎆 #teamwork #nbptdps #nbpt #nbptma taken in Newburyport, Massachusetts by @nbpt_dps

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a month ago