220 Tons of Debris Removed from Neighborhood's Sewers

In an effort to reduce flooding in the area, workers earlier this month finished cleaning out sewer and drain lines in one neighborhood near Union Square.

When work was done they had removed about 220 tons of debris from the lines, according to an announcement from the city of Somerville.

The announcement says National Water Main Construction spent about three months cleaning out sewer and drain lines along Washington Street between Beacon Street and the Argenziano School, along Dane Street between Somerville Avenue and Washington Street, and along Dane Avenue between Dane Street and Washington Street. The project cost about $175,000.

In all, they cleaned and inspected about four miles of pipes, according to the announcement.

Between 6 and 18 inches of muck was clogging up pipes throughout the network, with pipes being between 8 and 30 inches in diameter. Workers also found boulders and other obstructions in the pipes, the announcement says.

National Water Main Construction found the network in that area was structurally sound, the announcement says.

It says, "Cleaning these water mains helps restore the capacity to improve overall conditions in the short term, mitigating the risk of flooding in Ward 2."

The announcement says the city is planning to spend $700,000 to study infrastructure and utility improvements in Union Square, in part to reduce flooding in the area.