Sewer Line Break in Chelmsford

Sewer Line Break in Chelmsford

Updates on the Sewer Line Break in Chelmsford

3/26/2020

Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection

On March 24, 2020, the Town of Chelmsford experienced a serious sewer line break adjacent to its Wotton Street Wastewater Pumping Station.  While much of the wastewater flow being pumped at the station is still being conveyed to the City of Lowell for treatment and discharge at its wastewater treatment plant, a portion of the flow is being discharged directly to Deep Brook as a result of the break.  It is estimated that approximately 1,000 gallons per minute of wastewater is being discharged to Deep Brook, which flows in turn to the Merrimack River.  The Town has deployed a hard boom and absorbents across the Brook to capture as much oil, grease and solids as possible. The Town is taking immediate response actions to cease this discharge as soon as possible, which must be done without causing serious public health impacts to those served by the sewer system.  Contractors are on site, undertaking actions needed to install a bypass line which will be needed to facilitate a fix at the location of the break.  The bypass line is expected to be in place on Saturday, March 28, at which time the discharge to the Brook will cease.    Direct and immediate notifications have been provided by MassDEP to downstream resource managers in the Merrimack watershed, including Public Drinking Water Suppliers, the Division of Marine Fisheries, Mass Fish and Wildlife and the Merrimack River Watershed Council who are taking actions to manage any potential impacts from this discharge.  MassDEP will continue to support the Town to resolve this issue and will provide further updates on this matter on a routine basis.