The recent heavy rainfall has sparked sewage discharges across the area, as public health officials warn residents of “bacteria or other pollutants.”

A whopping 3-plus inches of rain slammed parts of the region on Wednesday, leading to sewage discharges, also known as combined sewer overflows.

Local public health departments are required to alert the public when these discharges may create a public health risk, including when a discharge lasts for more than two hours.

So where exactly did these sewage discharges happen on Wednesday?

These sewage discharges happen when “a large storm overwhelms the combined sewerage system causing rainwater to mix with wastewater and discharge to a nearby water body,” the Boston Public Health Commission said in a statement. “This prevents sewage backups into homes and businesses.”

The commission added, “The public is advised to avoid contact with affected water bodies for at least 48 hours after a sewage discharge or overflow, during rainstorms, and for 48 hours after rainstorms end, due to increased health risks from bacteria or other pollutants associated with urban stormwater runoff and discharges of untreated or partially treated wastewater.”