
On average Boston’s residents, workers and visitors use about 71 million gallons of water every day.
As part of our effort to provide excellent customer service, BWSC offers a number of programs that can assist you. This section contains program brochures that you can download. Below is a brief description of each program as well as a link to the brochure.
In addition, this section also contains BWSC’s customer newsletter, Currents, which is a bimonthly publication that provides information on construction projects, conservation tips, seasonal notices, etc. Currents also lists the location and times of Neighborhood Site Visits, when a BWSC representative is in your community to assist you.
When a water pipe on private property begins to leak, it is very important that it be fixed promptly and correctly as it can be destructive, expensive and pose a health risk. Under this program, eligible residential property owners can contract with BWSC to have a service leak on their property repaired at a reasonable cost and the cost can be repaid either in a lump sum or in twelve equal installments (interest free) incorporated into their water bills. Find out more.
This program was created to encourage Boston’s homeowners to replace the private lead water service at their property. While private water service connections are the responsibility of the owner, BWSC has developed this voluntary program as an incentive to remove the lead from water services in homes. Financial assistance in the form of a credit up to $1,000 towards the cost of replacement and the ability to pay over 24-month period is available to eligible homeowners. See if you are eligible.
If you have an in-ground irrigation system or a water-cooled air conditioning system, which does not enter BWSC’s sewer system, you may be eligible for a sewer credit for the amount of water registered on the “abatement meter.”
BWSC may be able to provide financial assistance (of up to $3,000) for a completely broken or blocked sewer lateral that requires excavation in the public way to repair. The sewer lateral, which is the responsibility of the property owner, is the pipe that connects a building to the main sewer pipe or storm drain in the street.
Did you know that gargoyles found on many buildings were originally used as fancy cover-ups for downspouts? The purpose of this program is to disconnect those downspouts (also known as roof leaders) that discharge stormwater into the sewer system. The sewer system is designed to carry wastewater from toilets, showers, dishwashers, etc., and not stormwater. This program is only available in selected neighborhoods of Boston where downspouts have been confirmed as discharging to the sewer system. Check out the brochure to see an improper connection versus a proper connection.
BWSC’s regulations require properly installed and maintained grease traps in all restaurants and food establishments. Properly maintained grease traps help prevent unwanted grease build-up in the sewer lines. This brochure contains information on the different types of grease traps, the proper placement of the trap, how often to clean a trap, etc. To assist our customers, BWSC will provide Grease Control Logs that will monitor the ongoing cleaning of the trap.