A number of city residents could have something illegal going on in their home and they may not even know about.
Relax, there's no penalty. In fact, the city wants to help you find the problem.
The Engineering Department is in the midst of a program that's offering amnesty to those who have illegal sump pump hookups in their homes.
A number of homes across the city have sump pumps connected to wash sinks that drains water into sewer lines, instead of backyards or storm drains. That means storm water or groundwater can seep into the sewer system, possibly resulting in backups and overflows.
The Engineering Department began the outreach program last summer designed to root out the improper connections. At that time, some 100 homes were inspected in areas near Trapelo Road and Lexington Street where the greatest number of inflow sources to the city's sewer system could be found. From those inspections, 55 illegal connections were found, said Paul Millett, project manager with Quincy-based Environmental Partners Group, Inc. a consultant hired by the city to develop the program.
Once environmental permits are secured, Millett said contracts for the work needed to correct the problem in that area of the city will be prepared, publicly bid and awarded. That should happen sometime next month.
"It's all at no cost to the homeowner," Millett said.
Millett said Environmental Partners Group and the Engineering Department are now focusing their attention on new areas to find the illegal sump pumps that include neighborhoods located off Lexington Street and south of Hardy Pond.
Some 800 to 900 fliers were hand delivered to homes in the area.
As a result, Millett said his office was swamped with phone calls and more than 50 home inspections were completed in the past six weeks.
"We got a big flurry of phone calls after the first two or three weeks," Millett said.
He's hoping more people who received the informational packets will call his office if they think they might have an improper connection.
"We still encourage people to call over the summer," Millett said.
Once the sump pumps are identified in the second areas, Millett said the work needed to correct the problem would be put out to bid, hopefully in September.
Millett said getting rid of illegal sump pumps is crucial for the city.
"It will prevent overflows," Millett said. "It will free up capacity in the sewer system for other purposes."
The amnesty program, which will expand to other areas of the city, is funded by a $6.4 million state revolving loan program so homeowners don't have to bear the cost for reconnections.
City council members who serve on the Public Works Committee, have asked the Engineering Department to come to them for approval before beginning each phase of the program.
Including the work that's already been done, Millett said the program should take three to four years to complete.
Richard Conn can be reached at 781-398-8004 or rconn@cnc.com.
