Holyoke tackles long-promised fix of sewer overflows

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06-05-2025

HOLYOKE — Long-awaited work to separate stormwater from wastewater in a section of Holyoke, reducing pollution of the Connecticut River, is set to begin, fulfilling a commitment to the federal government.
Trucks and pipes will be a common sight in the River Terrace area off Northampton Street, as a massive sewer project begins.
In September 2023, a judge approved an agreement between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the city to fix violations of the Clean Water Act caused by sewer overflows.
Holyoke was told to reduce the amount of untreated water from its sewer and stormwater systems going into the river and to do more work to separate the sewers.
Victoria Houle, the project manager and assistant city engineer, said residents should expect most of the repairs to be done this year, with additional work, including full-width road paving, in 2026.
The Department of Public Works will post regular construction updates on its Facebook page. 'People should share this information with their neighbors,' Houle said.
Residents might also have short interruptions to water or sewer service. The contractor will leave door tags to notify residents about 24 hours before disruptions, Houle said.
'From a development standpoint, this project helps the city meet its overall goal of replacing and repairing the aging infrastructure system and separating the combined systems that exist today,' Houle said.
Work officially started April 1 and crews have been hauling in materials. Residents should expect to see construction start on the River Terrace Project by late May, she said.
Project goals
The project will add about 4,200 feet of new sewer lines, 200 feet of smaller sewer pipes, 8,000 feet of storm drains and 8,000 feet of lining inside old pipes.
Other improvements include fixing small pipe problems, adding manholes and catch basins, closing off old pipes and fixing roads and grassy areas.
Road repairs will involve removing the top layer and putting down new pavement across the entire width.
The first phase of the River Terrace 'sewer separation' aims to eliminate combined wastewater and stormwater flows.
The area is divided into two subareas, A and B, both of which feed into an area regulator before going to the city's Wastewater Treatment Facility on Berkshire Avenue.
Phase A of the project includes work on Hampton Knolls Road, Jefferson Street, Vadnais Street, George Street, Liberty Street, Woodbine Lane, Bemis Road, Meadowview Road, Hillview Road and Northampton Street from George Street to River Terrace.
Final plans for Phase B are due to be finished by June 2026. That phase will include work on River Terrace, Pleasant Street, Montgomery Avenue, Bullard Avenue, Wyckoff Avenue, Briarwood Drive, Mountain View Drive, Steiger Road, Central Park Drive and Northampton Street from River Terrace to north of Mountain View Drive.
Overflow issue
A combined sewer system collects rainwater, household sewage and industrial wastewater into one pipe.
Normally, all wastewater goes to a treatment facility to remove contaminants and improve water quality before being released into a waterbody.
During heavy rain, the volume of combined wastewater can be too much for the existing system to handle, causing untreated wastewater to flow into streams and rivers.
Holyoke, Springfield and Chicopee are communities along the Connecticut River with sewer systems that mix rainwater and wastewater.
These cities have been working to eliminate overflow areas to improve water quality and meet MassDEP and EPA standards.
Managing system
The River Terrace project breaks grounds as three companies seek a contract to manage Holyoke's wastewater and stormwater systems for the next 10 years.
A new company will be selected by Wednesday, May 7, and the new contract will start Oct. 1, Assistant City Solicitor Michael D. Bissonnette has said.
Mary L. Monahan, chair of the Holyoke Department of Public Works Board, said a groundbreaking ceremony is planned in the coming weeks.
The city plans to invite state Sen. John Velis and state Rep. Patricia Duffy, who helped get money for the project, Monahan said.
'We got a 0% loan interest with 9% percent debt forgiveness, and 20 years to pay it off.' Monahan said. 'Which is a great deal.'
The project is paid for by the Commonwealth's Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program, run by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Read the original article on MassLive.