Matters ▸ Attachment
2018-infiltration mitigation — File 205043
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CITY OF SOMERVILLE
ORDINANCE NO. 2018-
In Board of Aldermen
AN ORDINANCE FOR INFILTRATION AND INFLOW MITIGATION BY
AMENDING CHAPTER 11 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF SOMERVILLE
Be it ordained by the Board of Alderman, in session assembled, that the provisions of Chapter
11, Article VII, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Somerville are hereby amended by
adding the following new sections:
Section 11 – X: Definitions:
Whenever used in this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings, unless
the context requires otherwise:
Infiltration. Water other than wastewater that enters a sewer system (including sewer service
connections and foundation drains) from the ground through means which include, but are not
limited to, defective pipes, pipe joints, connections, or manholes. Infiltration does not include,
and is distinguished from inflow.
Infiltration/Inflow. The quantity of water from both infiltration and inflow without
distinguishing the source.
Inflow. Water other than sanitary flow that enters a sewer system (including sewer service
connections) from sources which include, but are not limited to, roof leaders, cellar drains,
yard drains, area drains, drains from springs and swampy areas, manhole covers, cross
connections between storm sewers and sanitary sewers, catch basins, cooling towers, storm
waters, surface runoff, street wash waters, or drainage. Inflow does not include, and is
distinguished from infiltration.
Sec. 11-X. Infiltration and Inflow Mitigation
Any person or entity changing, altering, repairing, adding to or improving property, or any
person or entity proposing to add additional wastewater to an existing sewer connection, or
any person or entity establishing a new connection to the City’s common sewer system shall
be required to reduce infiltration/inflow entering the City’s common sewer system. Said
person or entity shall be subject to payment of a fee established by the City Engineer to
mitigate infiltration/inflow, or shall be required to complete repairs, alterations or
improvements to the City’s main drain and common sewer system to eliminate
infiltration/inflow in accordance with plans and calculations approved by the City Engineer. In
the event a connection is subject to conditions issued by the Massachusetts Department of
Environmental Protection, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Unit or the
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Massachusetts Water Resources Authority as part of a state or regional permitting process
requiring the removal of infiltration/inflow prior to connection, said removal of
infiltration/inflow shall be credited toward complying with the requirements of this ordinance.
The mitigation requirements, fee schedule and methodology for calculating mitigation and
fees, shall be determined and published by the City Engineer, and may be revised from time to
time. The City Engineer shall provide the Board of Aldermen with the mitigation
requirements, fee schedule and methodology for calculating mitigation and fees on or before
January 1 of each year, and whenever the fee schedule and/or methodologies are revised. The
City Engineer shall adopt rules and regulations setting forth the mitigation requirements, fee
schedule and methodology for calculating mitigation and fees. The mitigation requirements
may include exemptions.
Approved:
President
Board of Aldermen