River and Beckford Streets Sewer Gas Letter 10-9-2019 ,r
CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETT 10
S
.s BOARD OF HEALTH
98 WASHINGTON STREET,3'D FLOOR Public Health
SALEM,MA 01970 Prevent.Promote.Protect.
TEL. (978) 741-1800
KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL healthk-t'salem.com DAVID GREENBAum,RS
MAYOR HEALTH AGENT
October 9, 2019
Tom Watkins, Purchasing Agent
93 Washington Street
Salem, MA 01970
RE: River and Beckford Streets
To Whom it May Concern:
This office has received complaints of sewer gases permeating the neighborhood around River and Beckford Streets.
Sewer gas or hydrogen sulfide can be dangerous even at low levels. Prolonged exposure to sewer gas can cause
irritability,headaches, fatigue;sinus infections, bronchitis, pneumonia, loss of appetite, poor memory and dizziness.
The Salem Board of Health believes that the emission of sewer gas into the neighborhood may cause a Public Health
nuisance relative to Chapter 111, Section 123 of the Massachusetts General Laws, and the Massachusetts Department
of Environmental Protection Regulation 310 CMR 7.00: by emitting an offensive odor into the atmosphere.
Nuisance conditions of this nature unreasonably interfere with the enjoyment of residential property. It is the
recommendation of the Salem Board of Health that these conditions be remediated as soon as possible to prevent this
nuisance from having adverse effects on the neighborhood.
Please feel free to contact me should you require any additional information regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
avid Greenbaum
Health Agent