Groton Sewer Commission

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About

The Sewer Commission oversees:

the Groton Center Sewer System
the Four Corners Sewer System

The Sewer Commission’s oversight responsibilities include:

regulation of user fees
regulations for repayment of wastewater system costs
regulations for sewer design, construction, and use
allocation of sewer system capacity
other problems or issues regarding the sewer system

Announcements

Please find below recent announcements from the Sewer Commission.

Press Release - March 23, 2022 - Notice of Sewer Rate Increase

History

The first three-member Sewer Commission was elected at the 1993 annual election, succeeding the former Wastewater Committee, which was an appointed body formed to plan and coordinate the design and construction of the present-day sewer system. The first connection to the sewer system was made in 1989.

Created by Town Meeting in 1985, and now known as the Groton Center Sewer district, it is comprised of Groton Center and the subdivision known as Partridgeberry Woods, added in 1989. In 1996, the Town Meeting voted to authorize an additional line to service approximately a dozen homes on Hollis Street, and in 2001, the Groton-Dunstable Regional High School. The Boston Road / Old Ayer Road extension was added in 2005. In 2007, an amendment to the existing Joint Use Agreement with Pepperell was approved to allow a 10-unit cluster “cluster” development on Olivia Way to connect to the Pepperell sewer line. These homes are considered part of the Pepperell Sewer System. At various times, the district has been extended by town meeting vote as reflected on the district map https://www.axisgis.com/GrotonMA/ (To see the Sewer Distract Maps you will need to select the layers on the GIS system).

Under an intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Pepperell, adopted in 1987, the Town of Groton purchased capacity of 120,000 gallons per day at the Pepperell Wastewater Treatment Plant for disposal of sewage produced in the Groton Center Sewer District. In 2001, the Agreement was amended to authorize the purchase of an additional 56,250 gallons per day, and again in 2004 to authorize the purchase of yet an additional 97,500 gallons per day of capacity, bringing the total Groton capacity to 273,750 gallons per day. This represents 25% of the Pepperell plant’s total capacity of 1.1 million gallons per day. The Groton Sewer Commission manages Groton contracts with the Town of Pepperell to provide operation and maintenance for the system, including (in 1997) two pump stations; force main; manholes, laterals, and interceptors.

In 2019, the Groton Sewer Commission assumed responsibility to oversee the Four Corners Sewer District. The Four Corners District https://www.axisgis.com/GrotonMA/ operates under an intermunicipal agreement with the Town of Ayer, MA for the disposal of sewage produced in the Four Corners Sewer District.

The Commission is served by a part-time hourly office assistant.

Pay Bills Online

https://unipaygold.unibank.com/Default.aspx?customerid=589

Schedules of Fees and Fines

Sewer usage rates can be found in each district’s regulations. The current rates and fees can be found at

Groton Center Sewer District

Four Corners Sewer District

Regulations

Each district operates under a set of Rules and Regulations as approved by the Groton Sewer Commission. The regulations govern connection fees, usage and other applicable fees and fines, and design and construction regulations within each district. Please note that both districts incorporate the REGULATIONS FOR SEWER DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TOWN OF PEPPERELL, MASSACHUSETTS ( http://ma-pepperell.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/133) within the District’s regulations.

Groton Center Sewer District Regulations

Four Corners Sewer District Regulations

The Groton Sewer Commission operates under legal authority of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 83 §1-29 and Chapter 44 §53 and Groton Code Chapter 190.

MGL Chapter 83 https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXIV/Chapter83

MGL Chapter 44 §53 https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter44/Section53

Groton Code Chapter 190 https://ecode360.com/9078066

District Maps

The sewer districts identify the parcels included in the district. https://www.axisgis.com/GrotonMA/ (To see the Sewer Distract Maps you will need to select the layers on the GIS system).

Guidelines to request extension of a sewer district

Sewer districts can only be extended with a favorable vote of town meeting. The Sewer Commission will hold a public hearing on requests to extend a sewer prior to the town meeting. Please refer to the Sewer District Extension Guidelines for a details on this process: https://portal.grotonma.gov/storage/Groton_Sewer_Commission/Sewer_District_Extension_Guidelines.pdf

Application to connect to a sewer system

If applying for connection to either sewer system, an application is required. Please contact the Sewer Commission prior to application for assistance in the process. Please note that the sewer connection fee is due at the time of the application. The costs of design, construction, inspections and usage are the responsibility of the applicant.

Groton Center Sewer Application

Four Corners Sewer Application

Drainlayers

Drainlayers must be registered with the Town of Groton with current license information. View the Drainlayer Instructions for requirements. Use the Drainlayers Application to apply for a drainlayers license.

A Worker's Compensation Affidavit must also be on file with the Town of Groton.

Abatements of Sewer Charges

In unusual circumstances, the Sewer Commission will consider abatements for sewer charges following its Sewer Abatement Policy.

Sewer Abatement Policy

Meeting Minutes

Meeting minutes can be found on the Meeting Center https://portal.grotonma.gov/meetings/department/108

Contact Information

Email: sewer@grotonma.gov
Phone: (978) 448-1117
Fax: (978) 448-1123
Hours: M 8:00am - 7pm; T-TH 8:00am - 4:00pm; F 8:00am - 1:00pm

Members: 3
Selection: Elected
Term In Years: 3
Remuneration: None

Members

Michael Bouchard
Term Start: 2021-05-23
Term End: 2024-05-21

Thomas Orcutt
Term Start: 2020-06-09
Term End: 2023-05-16

(978) 448-1100

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