Home | Intranet Login | Webmail | Site Map

Union Park CSO Detention / Treatment Facility, Boston, Massachusetts

This was a well-publicized, highly visible $50 million project which included the construction of a new Detention/ Treatment Facility to improve water quality in the Fort Point Channel by providing for the treatment of Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO) that previously were discharged into the channel untreated during storm events.  The upgrades also effectively mitigated collection system surcharge and flooding of Boston’s South End during storm events.  Built adjacent to Boston Water and Sewer Commission’s (BWSC) existing lift station in a densely populated urban neighborhood, the new facility incorporated BWSC’s structure into the new Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) facility.  Providing 2.2 million gallons of CSO storage capacity and treating the remaining discharges, the project cost was $49.5 Million.  MWRA data since completion in April 2007 indicates a reduction in volume of CSO by 45.9%.  Further, that reduced volume is now treated rather than simply discharged into Boston Harbor.

• Project being executed under a court order.
• Deep open cut construction in a densely developed, urban setting.
• Coordination between various government agencies.
• Modification of the existing structure to seamlessly blend into the new structure, mechanical equipment and pipe systems.
• A lack of open space made storage of materials and site improvements very challenging.
• Project location (Boston’s South End) made movement of materials and equipment, over the surface streets, very difficult.