Beach at Croton Point Park Open Despite NYC Sewage Threat

The beach at Croton Point Park is open today despite a county warning to residents to avoid the Hudson River.

"It is safe to swim," said Karen Posato of the Westchester County Parks Department.

Posato said parks and health department officials have been closely monitoring the water quality at the beach since raw sewage began being discharged into the river Wednesday, after a fire at a sewage treatment plant in New York City.

The sewage can travel north despite the Hudson River's strong southward current because the river is an estuary, with tides of up to six feet.

"Tides travel up the Hudson all the way to the Troy dam, making the water in the Hudson slosh back and forth, much as you would see in a bathtub," according to the Cary Institute, which has a Web page all about Hudson River tides.

The county health department issued a recommending residents stay out of the Hudson because of the sewage discharge. 

Posato said decisions about closing the beach will be made based on testing, which as usual will take place throughout the weekend.

She advised residents to stay current on the park's conditions by visiting the county Web site: http://parks.westchestergov.com/