Select Board Revises Residential Sewer Connection and Hardship Policy

On Monday, November 24th, the Select Board voted to revise the Town’s Residential Sewer Connection and Hardship Policy in response to the positive early results of the Sewer Infiltration and Inflow (I&I) Project completed last summer.

Understanding Infiltration and Inflow (I&I)

Infiltration and Inflow—commonly referred to as I&I—are sources of excess, unwanted water entering the sewer system.

• Infiltration occurs when groundwater seeps into sewer pipes through cracks, loose joints, or deteriorated infrastructure.
• Inflow happens when stormwater enters the sewer system directly, often through sump pumps, roof drains, yard drains, or manhole covers.

While each type of water intrusion may seem minor on its own, together they can significantly overwhelm a sewer system. During heavy rains or periods of high groundwater, excess I&I can dramatically increase flows into the wastewater treatment plant or downstream partner system. This reduces available capacity, increases operating costs, and raises the risk of backups, overflows, or environmental impacts.

How the Town’s I&I Project Helps

The I&I mitigation work completed last summer focused on identifying, isolating, and repairing the locations where unwanted water was entering the system. The project included:

• Video inspections of sewer lines
• Smoke testing to locate improper tie-ins
• Sealing or replacing cracked pipes and joints
• Repairing or upgrading manholes
• Removing unauthorized stormwater connections

These improvements reduce the amount of clean groundwater and stormwater entering the sewer system, freeing up capacity for legitimate residential and commercial wastewater flows. Although more monitoring during different weather conditions is needed to confirm long-term results, the early data is encouraging and shows meaningful reductions in extraneous flow.

Policy Revision: Hardship and “By-Right” Connections

While the Board remains appropriately cautious until more comprehensive data is collected over varying rainfall patterns, the early success of the I&I project has allowed for a measured update to the Residential Sewer Connection and Hardship Policy.

The revised policy now distinguishes between:

• Hardship connections, which continue to be reviewed case-by-case for residents facing documented health, or environmental challenges; and
• “By-right” connections for single-family and duplex homes located directly along existing sewer mains, allowing these properties to connect without requiring a hardship determination.

This change reflects the Board’s commitment to serving existing residential neighborhoods while maintaining responsible stewardship of the Town’s limited wastewater capacity.

A Positive Step Forward

The updated policy represents a meaningful step in improving service to residents and supports the Town’s long-term infrastructure planning. It also validates the Board’s decision to invest in modern I&I prevention technology, which is already demonstrating tangible benefits for the community.

The Town will continue to monitor sewer system performance and adjust policies as additional data becomes available.