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Departments: Sewer Commission

Mission:

The Hingham Sewer Commission provides sewer service to approximately 2500 residences and/or businesses in the North Sewer District (NSD) and 180 residences and/or businesses in the Weir River Sewer District (WRSD). We currently maintain about thirty miles of sewer pipe and 13 pump stations.

The town is broken down into two separate sewer districts:
The North Sewer District has approximately 2500 businesses and residences connected to it, this flow goes directly to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.

The other district in town is the Weir River Sewer District. There is sewer service provided for approximately 275 houses in the West Corner section of Town. The flow from this district, combined with the flow from approximately 300 houses in Cohasset goes to the Wastewater Treatment Plant in Hull.

Billing:

Bills are sent to sewer users twice a year. The fall bill is a minimum of $150.00 or the cost of usage based on the first two quarters of water consumption, whichever is greater. The spring bill is based on actual water consumption for the entire previous calendar year adjusted for any payment made in the fall. The sewer use fee for Fiscal Year 2009 was $8.50/100 CF of water in the North Sewer District and $8.50/100 CF in the Weir River Sewer District.

Billing is based upon 100% of water use however, the use of dedicated meters to measure non-sewer deposited water for consumption adjustment is allowed when permitted through the sewer department.

Online bill payment is now available!

Sump Pumps:

Connection of sump pumps to the sewer system is strictly prohibited. Sump pumps contribute substantially to excess water (I & I or Inflow and Infiltration) in the system and add to the annual user fees in the NSD and may result in heavy fines in the WRSD.

Those considering purchasing a home in Hingham will want to have any illicit sump pump connections identified and re- routed before purchase. The Commission will re-route existing sump pumps at no charge to the owner. Please leave a message at (781) 740-0166 to arrange for participation in this project.

2009 Annual Report

The Board of Sewer Commissioners recognizes its obligation to rate-payers to exercise financial responsibility and, therefore, continued to take a conservative approach to the budget process in fiscal 2009. Capital projects are necessary every year for the safe and efficient operation of the sewer system due to the age of the infrastructure. The Commission carefully weighs each potential project in terms of need before any requests are made.

A complete renovation of the operating system at the Mill Street station was completed in 2009. The final cost of this major project was below the appropriation approved for it. The work included two new pumps, operating controls, power cabinet, and a new emergency generator. This upgrade will result in more effective and efficient operations at the station, minimizing problems and lowering operating costs going forward.

Two sewer extension projects were completed: the first in lower Central Street and the other in a portion of Thaxter Street. Combined, these two projects are providing sewer access to eleven properties in serious need of a wastewater disposal alternative to a septic system. The final paving of the affected streets will be completed in the spring of 2010. These extensions will be paid for by the project abutters through 20-year betterments.

The Sewer Commission, with assistance from the Board of Health and the Building Department, finalized an updated comprehensive Fats, Oils, and Grease (FOG) policy, to be implemented in fiscal 2010. While this policy will put regulations in place to reduce or eliminate FOG from non-residential cooking establishments, individuals can help to alleviate this problem as well. The Sewer Commission requests that residents refrain from putting any fatty substances into their drains. A significant reduction in the amount of FOG in the system will significantly reduce potential serious clog and odor issues and their attendant repair costs.

The upgrading of the operating systems of the grinder pumps serving the majority of the properties in the Weir River Sewer District was begun in 2009 and will be completed in 2010. These upgrades will provide the Weir River residents with the most advanced systems available before ownership of the pumping systems is turned over to them when the project is completed.

Inflow and Infiltration of extraneous water into the sewer system continues to be a serious and costly problem for all municipalities. While the department continues to seek and eliminate sources of I&I, homeowners in the sewer districts who use sump pumps can aid this effort by contacting the Commission to have their pumps checked. Any flow found entering the sewer system will be redirected, at no cost to the property owner.

As always we want to thank our maintenance staff, Jim Dow, Larry Hallahan, Steve Dempsey, and Ed Hunnefeld; and our office staff, Kate Lathrop, Joanne Carpenter, and Susan Morrison for their dedication and hard work.