WESTFIELD – The City is bringing its Elm Street sewer and stormwater lines into compliance with standards issued by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
City Engineer Mark Cressotti said that while Westfield has two separate sewer and stormwater systems, those lines share common manholes.
“There are not in the same pipe, but systems do have the potential to overflow into each other because they share common manholes with a weir separating the two,” Cressotti said. “The DEP has requested the city to isolate those systems and remove any potential for cross contamination.”
Cressotti said the work will not require opening the pavement of Elm Street between Franklin Street and Main Street. Trucks needed to perform the separation work will be parked at manholes along that area of Elm Street while the project is underway.
The cost of installing devices to separate the two systems is approximately $40,000.
Public Works Deputy Superintendent Casey Berube said this morning that the project scope of work involves encapsulating either the sewer line or the stormwater pipe at alternating manhole structures.
“They’re alternating so our guys will have access to either the stormwater pipe or the sewer line,” Berube said. “They’re also installing cleanouts in the encapsulated pipe. The contractor is only separating five structures along the west side of Elm Street .
The project to correct the potential cross contamination, especially during storms, is being designed by engineering consultant CBM Smith Inc. and the work is being performed by National Water Main Cleaning, Inc., of Connecticut.
