Nighttime Sanitary Sewer Investigation Underway in Bedford

Message from the Bedford Department of Public Works:

On behalf of the Town of Bedford Department of Public Works, Weston & Sampson Engineers and Inland Waters, LLC will be performing nighttime sanitary sewer investigation work throughout the town. The nighttime flow isolation work will take place between 11 pm. and 6 a.m. now through April 26, weather permitting.  

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 Town’s sewer ratepayers money to send to the MWRA sewer system.

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 11 p.m. and 6 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.

Each location should only take about 20 minutes to complete. People performing these inspections will be in clearly marked trucks. There will not be any loud noises; and lighting will be kept to a minimum. The work consists of opening and entering sewer manhole covers with shovels, tripods and harnesses.

Some of the inspections will be conducted in town sewer easements through neighboring yards of residential properties. If your property has a town sewer easement on it, a separate notification will be delivered, and a police detail will be scheduled to be on-site. The Town’s consultants and contractors will be wearing yellow reflective vests with identification.

Link to Phase 7 Flow Isolation Work Areas (PDF Map)

Phase 7 – Sewer main investigation program 1/21 – 2/9 Street Listing