Submitted by the Bedford Department of Public Works
The DPW Sewer Division recently replaced a 12-inch diameter gate valve at the Main Sewer Pumping Station on Great Road. This station pumps all the wastewater from Bedford to the MWRA interceptor in Lexington.
Flows at this station range from 1 million gallons per day during dry weather but can top out at 5 million gallons per day during wet weather, notably during the spring rain events.
With the current low flows, the Sewer Division was able to set up a by-pass pumping system to isolate the station and change out the internal gate valve.
The DPW respectfully reminds residents that extraneous flow such as sump pump discharge or stormwater piping should not be discharged to the sanitary sewer, as this requires extra pumping and treatment costs, which can significantly raise the Town’s sewer rates.