2018-inflow and infiltration 5-10-2018 — File 205908

1 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 in any way that may impact the City of Somerville sewer system, 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 mitigate 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. In the alternative, subject to approval of both the City Engineer and Board of Alderman, said person or entity may 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. Such calculations shall include an administrative

2 and oversight fee payable to the City in connection with the work to be performed. 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 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 a de minimis exemption for minor work performed, at the discretion of the City Engineer in consultation with the Board of Aldermen. Approved: President Board of Aldermen