The Wastewater Division has responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the wastewater collection system, 21 pump stations, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Wastewater from homes, commercial establishments, and industries flow to the public wastewater collection system. The collection system is a series of pipes that carry wastewater to the plant. In some locations, pump stations must pump the wastewater up the pipe to a location where it can then flow by gravity. The Town of Billerica has over 200 miles of sewer collection system.
Primary Treatment
Once the wastewater reaches the plant, solid material is allowed to settle out in large tanks. This is known as primary treatment. The water flows to the next series of tanks while the solids are pumped to solids holding tanks.
Bacteria
In the next series of tanks, bacteria is used to convert dissolved biological material to carbon dioxide, water, and more settle-able material. Air is added to these tanks for the bacteria while the dissolved material in the wastewater is food for the bacteria. The water continues on to another set of tanks while the solids are pumped to the holding tanks.
Removing Ammonia & Phosphorus
Chemicals are used to remove ammonia and phosphorus to protect the quality of the water in the Concord River. Ammonia and phosphorus are nutrients which allow algae to grow in the river using up the oxygen that fish need to survive.
The solids removed from the wastewater are dewatered and transported from the site by a contractor, for disposal.
The Town of Billerica is introducing a Sump Pump Redirection Program starting in August of 2013, to reduce the number of pumps connected to the sewer system. The 3-phase townwide program is designed to locate and redirect sump pump discharges from the sewer system to another acceptable location.
Program Goals
The goal of the program is to allow property owners to keep their sump pump, but to disconnect it from the sanitary sewer. The Department of Public Works continues to document a high number of sump pumps connected to the sewer system which increases flows to the Letchworth Avenue wastewater treatment plant. View the Sump Pump Redirection Program Brochure.
Phase 1
Phase 1 of the program consists of a townwide survey to determine how many property owners have sump pumps and whether these pumps are connected to the sanitary sewer.
Phase 1 is currently underway and should be completed by the end of 2013.
Phase 2
In Phase 2, as soon as questionnaires are returned, the town will work with participating property owners to determine the most acceptable redirection option for sump pumps that are connected to the sewer.
Phase 2 should run through early 2014, depending upon the number of property visits that are scheduled (click image at right to see diagram of incorrectly discharging sump pump).
During a property visit, the Department of Public Works will assess the existing sump pump system and, if it is connected to the sewer system, determine how to best redirect the discharge. The town has appropriated funds to begin the program as part of the Infiltration/Inflow (I/I) Program funding article at the 2012 Annual Town Meeting.
Phase 3
Phase 3 will consist of the town working with each property owner to redirect the sump pump discharge, at low or no cost. Click on the image to the right to see correctly installed sump pumps. Participation in the program is voluntary.
Reducing Sewer System Backups & Overflows
Removing sump pumps from the sewer will reduce sewer system backups and overflows and lessen the strain on the wastewater treatment plant during heavy rain events. The sewer system and treatment plant are not designed to handle flow from sump pumps. A sump pump can contribute over 5,000 gallons per day of unwanted ground water to the sanitary sewer system.
An 8-inch sanitary sewer line can accommodate waste flows from up to 200 properties, but the sump pump discharge from only 18 properties will overload the same line, causing backups and overflows into basements.
Sewer backups and overflows are a public health risk and harm the surrounding environment, including the Shawsheen River and Concord River. Sewer backups can also lead to higher sewer bills and reduced property values.
Additional Information
Once the home owner has signed up for the program, the Department of Public Works sump pump team will set up an appointment to start the process. For further information or if you have any questions about the program, please view the Contact Public Works form, or call the Billerica Department of Public Works Engineering Division at 978-671-1300.
Drain Layer Application & Fees
Effective 1/1/2024 all Drain Layer & Sewer Connection Permit Applications must be submitted online. All communication regarding sewer connections should be directed to Steve Robertson in the Engineering Division at 978-671-1300.
All work in the Town of Billerica must be performed by a licensed and approved drain layer. Qualified contractors may become approved drain layers by filling out our online application. During this process contractors will be asked to supply a digital copy of their bond, hoisting license and insurance. XCU COVERAGE MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE CERTIFICATE OF LIABILITY INSURANCE. Once your documentation has been approved, you will be notified that your application is ready for payment. Upon payment and final approval by the Department of Public Works Director, contractors will be placed on our Approved Contractor List. Only contractors on this list will be allowed to conduct work in the Town of Billerica. See below for our drain layer’s fee structure.
- Annual fees:
- Drain-layer license (for pipe work, street opening, and curb cuts) – $300.00
- Contractor License (street openings and curb cuts, but no pipe work) – $100.00
- One-time fee:
- Project Drain-layer License (single project only) – $100.00
Sewer Permit Procedure
The Town of Billerica will issue sewer permits electronically via email Permits will no longer be issued from the Wastewater Treatment Facility.
- Applications must be submitted online and payments made to the Engineering Office located in Town Hall, 365 Boston Rd, Room G7.
- Inspections will be conducted by Steve Robertson from the Engineering Division. Please call 978-671-1300 at least 48 hours in advance to schedule an inspection.
- Once work has been inspected and approved by the Town, the sewer permit will be put on file with the Water/Sewer Billing Department At that time, an account will be created/updated in our billing system and fees will begin accruing based on the amount of water used.
New Construction
- Residential new construction (includes tear downs) – $150.00 Permit Fee
- Commercial new construction / renovation – $600.00 Permit Fee
- DPW Fees (Paid in the Engineering Division at Town Hall)
- The DPW fee (for new residential) is calculated at $1.97 per square foot (Includes Wastewater PE/II and Water Conservation Fee).
- For Commercial (new and renovations), We use State Rule 314 CMR Regulations for determining the gallons per day to calculate fee.
- Wastewater Plant Expansion: $9.00 per gpd.
- Wastewater Inflow Infiltration: $3.99 per gpd.
- Water Conservation: $5.78 per gpd.
- For restaurants, flow based on number of seats.
- For office buildings, flow based on square footage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please apply using our online application. At this time, you will still be required to bring payment to the plant.
If you experience a backup Mon-Friday from 7am to 3:30pm, call the treatment plant at (978) 671-0956. Any other time after 3:30pm, and all weekend long, please either call the Billerica Police, Billerica Fire Dept., or the Billerica Water Treatment plant. They all have the “on call” number to reach someone for blockages.
The Town of Billerica owns everything in the street. There is a stub on your property line that the homeowner owns from there into their house. The Town of Billerica will clear the street end and, if necessary, the homeowner will call a rooter service if the problem is in their line.
First of all, ventilate the area. Then check all drains and sinks in the house and run water down them, sometimes if these items are not used all the time the water in the trap dries out and allows the gas back into the house. If the problem remains, call the Wastewater Treatment Plant at (978) 671-0956 and we will check the street for blockages.
No, this adds additional flow to the treatment plant and it costs money to treat. Sump pumps should be discharging to the outside of the home.
No, Billerica runs a sanitary sewer system, which means only houses, businesses and schools are connected to the collection system. Storm water goes down a different type of pipe and is sent back to either the Concord or Shawsheen rivers.
In the Town of Billerica sewer covers are round and storm water covers are square and full of smaller squares. Storm water drains are generally located on the sides of roads. Sewer manhole covers are generally located in the middle of the road.
Call the Wastewater Treatment Plant at (978) 671-0956. We have plans for most homes and businesses in town. We will come out and mark out your service so work can be done. We also can help if you need to know if you are connected to the sewer system by doing a dye test or checking with water billing.
We are designed to treat 5.5 million gallons a day. We are a Grade VII advanced treatment plant with CoMag Tertiary Phosphorous Removal. We also maintain 27 pumping stations and 200 miles of sewer line in the town.