2010 Stormwater Management Report (PDF) - US Environmental ...

The site plan review process provides an opportunity to review the components of the
project and condition the approval on compliance with the Commission’s Sewer Use
Regulations, Requirements for Site Plans, and other requirements. In 2010, 268 site
plans were approved by the Commission’s Chief Engineer.
Drain Layers License: Persons installing new building sewers and storm drains, or
repairing or maintaining existing pipes must possess a Drain Layers License issued by the
Commission. To obtain a Drain Layers License, persons must pass a written test given
by the Commission’s Engineering Customer Services Division. Test questions are
typically drawn from the requirements provided in the Commission’s Sewer Use
Regulations, including those pertaining to illegal sanitary connections to storm drains,
non-stormwater discharges, requirements for new construction and catch basin dumping.
Drain Layers Licenses are renewed annually. The Drain Layers Licensing requirement
provides the opportunity to educate drain layers in Boston as to the Commission’s rules
and regulations, including those pertaining to stormwater. Thirty-four (34) new Drain
Layers Licenses were issued in 2010, and 358 were renewed.
Inspections of New Connections: Connection of a building sewer to a storm drain is
prohibited under the Commission’s Sewer Use Regulations and carries a fine of up to
$5,000 per day of violation. To ensure proper connection, the Commission requires that
all new, repaired or modified service connections be inspected by a Commission
inspector before the services are covered over by the contractor. Failure to have the
connection inspected before covering it over carries a fine of up to $750 per day under
the Commission’s Sewer Use Regulations.
As an added measure, new sewer connections must be dye tested by the Commission
once construction is completed. Failure to have a new sewer connection dye tested
carries a fine of up to $500 per day. The Commission may require that a repaired or
modified service connection be dye tested. In 2010, the Commission’s Engineering Field
Services Division performed 386 GSA related dye tests.
Other requirements contained in the Sewer Use Regulations and Requirements for Site
Plans that pertain to development and construction include the following:
On-site Retention of Stormwater: Under the Commission’s Site Plan Requirements and
Sewer Use Regulations, developers of new projects are required to evaluate the feasibility
of retaining stormwater on-site. On-site retainage of stormwater is required whenever
site conditions permit as determined by the Commission. On-site retention of stormwater
serves to limit peak discharge rates, recharge groundwater, and remove 80 percent of
total suspended solids in the flow to the extent feasible. This requirement is consistent
with the Department of Environmental Protection’s Stormwater Management Policy
which establishes standards for stormwater management for development.
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