Nighttime Sewer Work to Begin on April 22

The City of Melrose’s Public Works Department has started the third phase of a sanitary sewer investigation program throughout the City. The purpose of the project is to identify problem areas of the sewer system that are in need of rehabilitation and/or repair in an effort to prevent infiltration from entering into the pipes. Infiltration is clean water from below the ground (known as groundwater) that enters the sewer system through defective sewer pipes and structures. This “clean” water takes up space or capacity in a pipe that would normally be available for wastewater. It can cause the pipe and its service connections to back-up and potentially overflow during extreme wet weather conditions, and it costs the City’s sewer ratepayers money to send to the MWRA sewer system.

One step in this program is to conduct flow isolation. Flow isolation is a method of quantifying the amount of infiltration in a sanitary sewer system. Flows in the system are measured during off-peak times, typically between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. Normally people are sleeping during this time and if there is flow in the sewer system it can be assumed to be largely infiltration.

Beginning on Wednesday, April 22, 2020, crews from Inland Waters, Inc. of Johnston RI, will be present in the neighborhoods listed below between the hours of 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. A representative from Weston & Sampson Engineers, Inc., our wastewater consultant, and/or a representative from the City will also be present for the duration of the flow isolation.

It is likely that you will see trucks and workers present in the street during these hours. The workers will be required to remove the existing sewer manhole covers to enter the sewer system and some minor noise disturbances may result. It is expected that all of the flow isolation will be completed in approximately three weeks; however, this work is weather dependent and may take additional time to complete should we experience frequent rain. We do not expect any interruptions of sewer or water service to result from this work but will provide individual notification to residents if any interruption becomes necessary. We ask for your patience and understanding while this work is completed.  

If you have any questions or concerns, please call Scott Dixon, Project Engineer for the City, at (781) 484-6322 or Ryan Henley of Weston & Sampson, the City’s wastewater consultant, at (860) 967-4651.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this important matter.