Town Of Shrewsbury: Important Message From The Water And Sewer Division - Sanitary Sewer Overflow

Press release from the Town of Shrewsbury:

July 2, 2021

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on July 2, 2021, the Water and Sewer Division was notified that our Walnut Street Pump Station was not able to keep up with the incoming flow which caused a sanitary sewer overflow at a manhole on Route 20.  The sanitary sewer overflow was contained within the roadway at the intersection of Walnut Street and the westbound side of Route 20.  Crews put straw wattles in place to protect the surrounding area and used a truck mounted vacuum to clean up the area.  We believe that the overflow was properly contained and did not enter a nearby stream.  We are estimating that 600 gallons flowed from the manhole.  We believe the excess flow may have been coming from our Landfill due to the heavy rainfall and are working with them to investigate further.

At approximately 10:45 a.m. on July 2, 2021, the Water and Sewer Division was notified that our Walnut Street Pump Station was not able to keep up with the incoming flow which caused a sanitary sewer overflow at a manhole on Route 20.  The sanitary sewer overflow was contained within the roadway at the intersection of Walnut Street and the westbound side of Route 20.  Crews put straw wattles in place to protect the surrounding area and used a truck mounted vacuum to clean up the area.  We believe that the overflow was properly contained and did not enter a nearby stream.  We are estimating that 600 gallons flowed from the manhole.  We believe the excess flow may have been coming from our Landfill due to the heavy rainfall and are working with them to investigate further.

The Town of Shrewsbury Sewer Division collects and transports an average of over three million gallons of sewerage each day.  Two regional wastewater treatment facilities in neighboring communities provide support for treatment and final disposition of the Town's sewerage.  The network of approximately 170 miles of mains and 37 pump stations provides sewer service to a large portion of the Town.  Several sewer stations, including the Maple Avenue Pump Station run 24 hours per day, 365 days a year, and handle a large portion of the Town's daily flow.  Despite the best efforts of the Water and Sewer Division to maintain this vital infrastructure in a proactive manner, these unfortunate instances can occur.  

If you have any questions please contact Dan Rowley, Water and Sewer Superintendent, at Drowley@shrewsburyma.gov.

This press release was produced by the Town of Shrewsbury. The views expressed here are the author’s own.