The Sewer Department maintains over one hundred miles of sewer mains, over 3,000 structures, and 28 pump stations.
The sewerage system services approximately 7,800 buildings. Sewage is ultimately pumped from the Beach Street pumping station to the South Essex Sewerage District (SESD) treatment plant in Salem where it receives secondary treatment.
Marblehead has been a member of SESD since a favorable vote of Town Meeting in 1972. The town started using the plant when it began operations in 1978. Secondary Treatment was added in 1999.
SAVE YOUR PIPES – DON’T FLUSH WIPES!
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Did you know that flushing non-degradable debris down your commode can end up causing very costly sewer backups in your home and damage the sewer department’s equipment?
With the recent upsurge in the popularity of so-called “disposable” wipes, many are being flushed down the toilet and enter the town’s sanitary sewer system.
The problem with flushing these wipes—baby wipes, cleaning wipes, sanitizing wipes and all of the other types of wipes— and even dental floss is that they get caught in the impellers of the sewer pumps and have to be removed manually. They can not only cause damage to the pumps but could also result in a backup if they cause the pump to shut down.
And they can clog sewer lines coming into your home causing a backup of sewerage into your home. Since the homeowner is responsible for maintenance of sewer pipes from the sewer main on into their residence, the cost of clearing the lines (and any cleanup) would be at the homeowners expense.
Even the wipes that promote themselves as being biodegradable cause problems because they get to the pumps long before they dissolve. And dental floss wraps itself around the impellers, causing damage. The wipes may be convenient and using dental floss may be healthy but they’re not flushable. They should be disposed of with your household trash.
And it’s not only wipes and floss that can clog the system. Diapers, dinner napkins, paper towels and other heavy-weight, non-degradable materials that are not meant to be disposed of by flushing can cause damage. Believe it or not, a full-size tablecloth was recently found entangled in a pump impeller – honestly. Other materials recently found clogging the system include a bed sheet, towels and a pair of pantyhose – with a ribbon attached. The only thing that should be flushed down the toilet is bathroom tissue made for that purpose.
A Drain Layer License is required when any work is to be performed in connection with the Marblehead sewer system. All Drain Layer Licenses expire on December 31st, regardless of the date of issue.
The following must be submitted with the Application for Drain Layer License:
- Current Certificate of Liability Insurance for General Liability and Workers’ Compensation and Employers’ Liability coverage;
- Surety Bond in the amount of $2,000 specifically for “Drain Layer License”;
- A copy of a valid Department of Public Safety-issued Hoisting License for each employee who may be engaging in the operation of equipment for any trenching operation.
- A completed Commonwealth of Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Insurance Affidavit Form;
- Two (2) letters of reference from communities in which the applicant is already licensed;
- A check in the amount of $300.00 made payable to the Marblehead Water and Sewer Commission.
Abatements for Non-Connection to Sewer System
The following is a Public Notice from the Marblehead Water & Sewer Commission to all Property Owners with regard to connection to the sanitary sewer system:
“The Marblehead Water and Sewer Commission hereby notifies all owners of property who are currently paying sewer user fees that if there is a question as to whether the property being charged sewer user fees is connected to the Town sewer system, a written notice must be filed with the Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners.
Failure to provide written notification to the Commission will limit any future request for sewer system abatements to current charges only.”
The Marblehead Water and Sewer Commission allows customers who use a lot of outside water, such as for an irrigation system, to install a second meter. This second meter, known as a deduct meter, measures the flow of water that does not enter the sanitary sewer system and is used to calculate a reduction in sewer use charges. (The customer is still charged for the water that is used.)
A sewer deduct meter is purchased by and owned by the customer and the customer is entirely responsible for its maintenance and for assuring that it is recording accurately. The Commission is in no way liable for meters that fail to record usage nor will any credit be issued for usage not recorded. Sewer Deduct Meters & Plumbing Inspector Requirements here.
The meter must be installed by a licensed plumber at the customer’s expense. Installation must be done according to the plumbing inspector’s requirements. Obtaining appropriate plumbing and inspections is the responsibility of the customer or plumber. View the Sewer Deduct Meters & Plumbing Inspector Requirements here.
After the meter has been inspected by the Building Inspection Department, the customer or plumber must notify the Water and Sewer Commission and schedule an inspection by a water department technician. There is a $100.00 initial inspection fee and a fee of $100.00 for each re-inspection. The deduct meter is not recognized by the Water and Sewer Commission until all requirements are met.
Absolutely no sewer credit, refund or abatement will be issued for malfunctioning or faulty meters, incorrectly installed meters, meters not having the required inspections or meters that have not been recognized and accepted by the Water and Sewer Commission. The customer is responsible for any usage not recorded on the deduct meter.