Description

Customers may be eligible for a sewer abatement if water that enters a home 
or building does not enter BWSC’s sewer system (for example, an
in-ground irrigation system, water-cooled air conditioning system, etc.). Sewer abatements allow a separate meter that is approved by BWSC to be placed on the property that registers water not entering BWSC’s sewer system. 

The meter is scheduled to be read on a monthly basis and the customer is given 
a sewer credit for the amount of water registered on the abatement meter. Sewer credits are applied as meter reads are obtained.

Below is the policy on sewer abatements 
that must be followed for a customer to
qualify. For further information regarding 
sewer abatements, please contact BWSC’s Engineering Customer Service Department 
at (617) 989-7000.

General Guideline Statement

These guidelines create procedures for abating sewer charges to Boston Water and Sewer Commission (Commission) customers. Upon compliance with the general requirements and inspection and approval process outlined herein, the Commission will offer sewer use charge abatements (credits) to customers meeting all of the following criteria:

1. Wastewater discharge is less than 
   water use.

2. Able to measure water usage not 
   returned to the sewer system.

3. Meet the plumbing specifications 
   as outlined in this policy.

4. Pay fee at Engineering Customer Service for Meter Transmission Unit (MTU).
   Note: $325.00 per Meter Transmission Unit (MTU).

 Sewer abatements will be granted at the Commission’s discretion and only upon compliance with the following requirements, conditions, and procedures.

I. Application Procedures for a Sewer Use Charge Abatement

The following application procedures and conditions must be met prior to application review or approval of any sewer use charge abatement. It is recommended that the applicant not purchase any plumbing fixtures associated with the sewer use charge abatement prior to Commission approval of the proposed system. No installation of sub-meters, sewer flow meters, discharge meters, or backflow prevention devices shall commence prior to the submission by the applicant, and review and approval by the Water and sewer Commission, of the detailed plumbing schematic and floor plans as described below:

1. The applicant must submit to the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Engineering Services Division, 980 Harrison Ave Boston, MA 02119 a check for $325.00 per Meter Transmission Unit (MTU) along with a completed Sewer Abatement application with detailed drawings (on reverse side of application) containing the following information:

2. After plan review and approval by the Commission, a plumbing permit must be obtained from the City of Boston, Inspectional Services Department, for the installation of all sub-meters, sewer flow meters and all approved backflow prevention devices prior to the commencement of any plumbing work.

3. After the completion of all approved work, the applicant must notify Commission’s Enforcement Division and arrange for an on-site inspection which will include the inspection of all sub-meters, Meter Transmission Units (MTU), sewer flow meters, backflow prevention devices and adjacent plumbing fixtures. At that time, approved meters will be tagged and sealed by Boston Water and Sewer Commission staff. The Commission must be notified in advance of all meter replacements or seasonal disconnections. Tampering with the meter seal will result in a loss of eligibility for a sewer use charge abatement.

4. No abatement will be granted without full compliance with BWSC Water Use Regulations, Massachusetts Plumbing Code (248CMR) and the Commonwealth
   of Massachusetts Drinking Water Regulations governing cross connections (310-CMR-22.22).

II. General Requirements

1. These guidelines require all customers requesting sewer abatements to purchase all Meter Transmission Units and to purchase, install and maintain all sub-meters, sewer flow meters and backflow prevention devices. The sub-meters purchased by the customer must be compatible with the Commission’s current proprietary specifications for water meters.

2. All sub-meters must register in cubic feet and must have "encoder" register heads. The Commission will install, wire, and program the MTU with the necessary account information. The MTU must be purchased at the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Engineering Customer Service Department, 980 Harrison Avenue, Boston MA, 02119, (617) 989-7716.

3. The domestic water lines from all sub-meters and approved backflow prevention devices to units NOT contributing any discharge to the sewer system must be fully exposed along their entire length.

4. When a portion of sub-metered water is returned to the sewer system, a discharge meter must be installed and the discharge plumbing must be fully exposed from the discharge meter to the point of discharge.

5. Sub-meters (which must register in cubic feet) must be installed in a horizontal position.  Approved backflow devices must be installed in a horizontal position between 3 and 4 feet off the floor, 1 foot from any wall and must be easily accessible for testing and maintenance purposes.

6. In accordance with Massachusetts State Law 310 CMR 22.22 and BWSC Water Use Regulations an approved backflow device must be tested and inspected to ensure the device is in proper working order. The type of device will govern the frequency of testing, the minimum being one test per year. The Commission will issue a $110.00 charge per test per device to the sewer abatement account.

7. In accordance with the Commissions policy of recovering the costs of providing special services not used by the general population from the users of the service, the Commission will set appropriate fees, including an initial application fee and inspection fees.

III. Types of Water Use Eligible for Sewer Use Charge Abatement

1. Cooling Towers – sewer use charge abatements will be calculated based upon the difference between sub-metered water use feeding the tower and sub-metered water discharging through overflows or "blow downs." Overflows or "blow downs" must be maintained in good working order. No over-spray will be allowed. All cooling towers must have a sub-meter and a discharge meter to be eligible. No drains or hose connections will be allowed between the sub-meter and the discharge meter.

2. Irrigation Systems – Sewer use charge abatements will be calculated based upon sub-metered water use on in-ground irrigation systems only. There shall be no sill cocks or hose connections as part of the sewer use charge abatement system. Compressor and drain fittings installed for the purpose of winterizing the irrigation system shall not consist of hose connections but will utilize smaller valved connections. The sub-meter connection must be located downstream from (after) the main water meter.

3. Boilers – Sewer use charge abatements on boilers will be calculated based on sub-metered water use supplying the boiler. In instances where the boiler operation includes continuos or intermittent "blow downs," a sewer discharge meter will also be required. The sewer use charge abatement will be calculated based on the difference between sub-metered use supplying the boiler and the metered water discharging through "blow downs."

4. Product Use – Sewer use charge abatements on product uses will be calculated based on sub-metered water use on the supply line to the product. Water loss due to evaporation during the production or manufacturing may be accounted for with a sewer flow meter measuring actual discharge to the sewer system. In instances where 100% of the sub-metered water is used in the product, all service pipes providing product make-up water must be fully exposed, fixed and untapped. Production reports or evaporation estimates will not be accepted.

5. Laundries – Sewer use charge abatements in laundries will be calculated based on the difference between the metered water supply to the laundry facility and the metered discharge to the sewer system. Sewer flow meters must be installed to measure actual discharge to the sewer system and must be equipped with remote reading devices. Sewer flow meters should be tested annually by an independent third party at owner’s expense and test results forwarded to the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, Engineering Services Division.

6. Other – Other sub-metered water usage no returned to the sewer system may qualify for a sewer use charge abatement. All applications must be filed with the Boston Water and sewer Commission, Engineering Services Division.

The qualification requirements, procedures and appropriate fees outlined herein for new applicants pertain to existing customers as well. However, existing customers will be granted a "grace period" in which to obtain an inspection verifying compliance with this policy. During the "grace period" customers will still be eligible to receive their sewer use charge abatement as currently calculated. Failure to obtain an inspection verifying compliance with this policy will result in loss of eligibility for a sewer use charge abatement.  The customer may reapply as described in Sections I and II to be considered for future abatements.

Sewer use charge abatements from an approved meter will only be calculated based on an actual meter reading. No abatement will be granted without obtaining an actual meter reading. With the exception of accounts billed for seasonal water use, all sewer use charge abatement meters will be read by Commission staff on a bimonthly basis. In cases where readings from multiple meters are required to calculate a sewer use charge abatement, all the required readings must be obtained in order for the abatement to be processed. All accounts billed for seasonal water use will be read a minimum of twice per year.

If upon annual inspection, Commission staff discovers an irregularity, the customer will be informed in writing as to the specific violation or irregularity. The abatement will be discontinued on that date and the discontinuance will remain in effect until the situation is corrected by the customer and verified by the Commission. The customer will have 30 days to correct the problem and contact the Commission to schedule a follow-up inspection by Commission staff. If the problem is not corrected and the commission is not contacted within 30 days, the customer will no longer be eligible for a sewer use abatement unless they reapply as described in Sections I and II.