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Public works director outlines town plan to find and fix private sewer connections
Summary
Public works director described smoke testing, televising lines and basement inspections to locate private sewer connections causing inflow and infiltration; the board heard the town may need a formal assessment program and homeowner outreach before repairs.
The Select Board heard a detailed explanation of private sewer connections and aging pipes that are adding groundwater and surface water to the town sewer system, increasing inflow and infiltration (I&I).
Public works director (S4) told the board the town has begun smoke testing to locate improper connections, and described additional approaches including basement inspections and televising underground lines. "Smoke testing is you just pump a bunch of smoke into the collection system and where it comes up is where you have issues," S4 said, describing how the test reveals points where private lines or roof drains connect into public collection lines. S4 added that televising lines with a camera can help assess condition where smoke testing shows a problem.
S4 said much of the pipe network is old — "40, 50 years old" — and that materials such as vitrified clay and cast or ductile iron can crack or shift, letting groundwater infiltrate. He said the town has started the process of assessment and that next steps would include designing a town program to help homeowners identify and correct private-line problems, rather than immediately performing large-scale corrective construction.
Committee member (S1) raised who would be responsible for private lines; S1 said, "The responsibility would be the homeowners." S4 concurred that private-line issues are often the homeowners' responsibility while recommending the town provide an assessment program and outreach so homeowners understand what needs to be fixed.
The public works director said he has consulted with the town engineer, Bill Over, and expects a written report from recent field work (including at Sierra Hollow) to clarify the extent and location of issues. He recommended the board and town manager discuss a phased approach that begins with assessment and homeowner engagement before committing major capital funds.
The Select Board did not adopt a formal program or funding resolution at the meeting; S4 said a longer-term, methodical plan to reduce I&I will be needed and that the board would need to consider how to address private- and public-line repairs in future sessions.
