THE SEWER BANK: A KEY ELEMENT OF A CMOM PROGRAM

A sewer bank, a system that balances new, permitted wastewater flow with the removal of infiltration and inflow (I/I), is a solid foundation for a Capacity Management and Operations and Maintenance (CMOM) program. Braintree, Massachusetts uses a sewer bank to regulate capacity in its wastewater collection and treatment systems. The Massachusetts DEP requires that communities under Administrative Consent Orders resulting from sewer overflows institute sewer banks. Teamed with an I/I removal program and revenue raising instruments like fees and surcharges, it can serve as a tracking tool for an overall capacity management system.The elements of a CMOM program often intertwine in complicated ways. The key to success is to make the plan simple and straightforward. Ideally, it will require a minimum of staff time and be upgradeable to realize future capabilities such as integration with GIS systems. This paper will include the following elements:An explanation of sewer banks and a discussion of the most common ways of managing record keeping of wastewater flow.An overview of I/I removal programs focusing on the removal of inflow sources from private property.A discussion of potential ways to encourage the removal of inflow to make the bank solvent.A presentation of a case study demonstrating how the Town of Braintree, Massachusetts is using Microsoft Access to track permits, I/I redirection, etc.A discussion of plans to set up a program to allow for future GIS integration and application to CMOM and asset management plans.