Mamaroneck to Begin Inspecting Building Water Connections

The following notice is from Richard Slingerland, village manager for the Village of Mamaroneck:

Notice to residents and business owners in the Village of Mamaroneck. This is to confirm that letters being sent out from the Village are official communications, and not a scam.

The Village of Mamaroneck is currently cooperating with the Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities (WC DEF) the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to improve our area water quality as it relates to our rivers and streams, the Mamaroneck Harbor, and the Long Island Sound.

This relates both to our stormwater system, through a program called “illegal discharge detection and elimination”, or IDDE, and to our sanitary sewer system which carries sewage from all homes and businesses, through a program called “Inflow and Infiltration”, or I&I.

I&I is the flow of clear water (rain water or groundwater) into the sanitary sewer system. Infiltration occurs when groundwater seeps into the sanitary sewer pipes through cracks and separated joints, from aging or outdated sewer pipes that are on both public and private property, including homeowner’s lateral connection to the sewer in the street. Inflow is usually traced to sump pumps (used by homeowners to keep groundwater out of their basement), roof downspouts, patio drains and foundation drains connected to the sanitary sewer system. This excessive inflow of clear water overloads the sewer and wastewater treatment plant, and causes sewage to overflow from manholes.

The Village of Mamaroneck has been issued a Consent Order by the NYS DEC for sanitary sewer overflows caused by excessive I&I. An investigation of the Village’s sanitary sewer system has shown a high volume of I&I in several neighborhoods around the Village.

In continued efforts to comply with the Consent Orders and identify improper and potentially illegal building connections, the Village consultant ARCADIS will be conducting building inspections on various streets.

IF YOUR STREET AND HOME OR BUSINESS HAS BEEN SELECTED, YOU WILL BE ISSUED AN OFFICIAL LETTER ON VILLAGE LETTERHEAD. WE WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE’S COOPERATION DURING THIS INSPECTION AND RESEARCH PHASE TO CONFIRM COMPLIANCE TO REDUCE AND ELIMINATE ILLEGAL DISCHARGES OF SEWAGE INTO STORM-DRAINS, AND REDUCE FRESH WATER LEAKING INTO AND OVERWHELMING OUR SANITARY SEWER SYSTEM.

The inspection will take about 20 minutes and will include looking in the basement to confirm sump pumps and foundation drains do not connect and drain to the sanitary sewers.

The Village of Mamaroneck thanks you in advance for your cooperation on this matter.

Very truly yours,

Richard Slingerland
Village Manager

Patch file photo.