Another sewage line break at the harbor in Wells has forced the closure of the shoreline.

Police said Thursday no swimming, fishing or shellfish harvesting will be allowed between the jetty and the interior of the harbor until further notice.

Officials said testing in the harbor found that the water was safe, but the harbor would remain closed until the risk of pipe failure is eliminated.

⚠️Alert⚠️
8/11/22

Due to another sewage leak at the harbor – there is NO swimming, fishing or shellfish harvesting between the jetty & in the harbor until further notice. All other beaches are unaffected & open.

Questions or concerns? Please call Wells Sanitary or Wells FD.

— Wells Police (@WellsPolice) August 11, 2022

All other beaches were not affected and will remain open.

This marks the fifth time the sewer line has broken this summer.

Officials have said that the line, which was installed in the 1970s, floated to the top of the water in 2018 after breaking free of its anchors. Previous breaks were caused by boats striking the line, but officials say that wasn’t the cause of the break on Thursday.

Permits to replace the line have been approved, with the project slated for October, though the Wells Sanitary District says it hopes to get work started sooner.

For now, officials are using concrete to try to keep the pipe weighted down.