THE LYNN Water and Sewer Commission officially completed a $120 million project this month that separated the city’s stormwater and sewer systems in West Lynn, improving water quality in the Saugus River and Lynn Harbor. The move is one of multiple citywide efforts to restore Lynn’s long-polluted waterfront and unlock investment.
Combined sewer overflows (CSOs) have long been an issue in older communities with aged infrastructure.
A collection of cities on the North Shore (and across the Commonwealth) have historically combined sewer systems where both wastewater and stormwater come through shared pipes. During heavy rains — which are becoming more frequent due to climate change — the excess flow bypasses the treatment plants where it is supposed to be cleaned and is instead discharged into local bodies of water to prevent backups in people’s homes…