Combined Sewer Overflows

A combined sewer overflow is a permitted overflow that discharges combined storm water and wastewater during heavy rainfall or snowmelt events.

In accordance with the Modified Consent Decree Civil Action No. 89--2206-WGY the City of Gloucester developed a Long Term CSO Control Plan in 2005, the LTCP detailed a number of CSO control projects to eliminate and reduce CSO activity.  In response to an Administrative Consent Order with Penalty (ACOP-NE-09-1N002), the City negotiated with MassDEP and USEPA to revise the LTCP and prepared a revised Supplemental CSO LTCP in September of 2011.  

Over the past ten years, the City has completed numerous construction projects in accordance with the Supplemental CSO LTCP, to separate the combined sewer system to eliminate and reduce CSO activity.  Projects included sewer separation construction projects, modifications of existing CSO control structures, and installation of flow metering, level sensing, and communication equipment to monitor CSO activity.  A summary of the LTCP projects and timeline is summarized in the Powerpoint presentation (submitted in previous email).  

In November of 2020, the City met with MassDEP and USEPA to review the status of the LTCP projects and requested termination of the ACOP.  

MassDEP agreed that the City of Gloucester had met the requirements of the ACOP and had completed the LTCP projects.  On March 11, 2021 MassDEP issued a termination letter to document the termination of the ACOP (submitted in previous email).  

In accordance with the ACOP termination, the City agreed to install meters and/or level sensors to monitor all CSO activity for three years and submit an annual report of activity.

Links to CSO Reference Documents:

The fastest way to get information on a CSO event in Gloucester is to sign up to receive public advisory notifications by subscribing to “Public Health” alerts here.