Water and Sewer Commission Taking to JP Streets Looking for Illegal Connections

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For the rest of 2017, Jamaica Plain and Mission Hill residents may notice contractors for the Boston Water and Sewer Commission examining manholes and storm drains to find illegal building sewer connections.

Illegal building connections hooked up to storm drains allow untreated sewage to discharge to local waterways and wetlands.

If evidence of sewage is found in a storm drain the sewer service connections of adjacent buildings will be dye tested, said a press release from the Boston Water and Sewer Commission. Building owners and occupants will be notified in advance if it is necessary to perform a dye test of their house or building. Testing involves contractors putting a non-toxic dye into a toilet or sink, running the water, and observing if the dye appears in the storm drain or sanitary sewer. Building owners and occupants will be notified in advance if it is necessary to perform a dye test of their building.

It's important to note that all field personnel carry photo ID that includes the Boston Water and Sewer Commission’s logo and the firm’s logo. The Boston Water and Sewer Commission’s contractors for the program include CH2M and its subcontractor, Stacey DePasquale Engineering.

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