Beginning on Tuesday, November 16, 2021, the Hingham Department of Public Works is conducting an Illicit Discharge Detection and Elimination (IDDE) investigation program to find and remove illicit discharges in the Town’s storm drainage system. Illicit discharges are direct connections or indirect discharges into the municipal storm drain system that are not composed entirely of stormwater. These investigations will be weather dependent and will continue through the end of 2021.
Hingham is authorized by the State and the EPA to discharge stormwater runoff into local waterways in accordance with the Clean Water Act. It is our responsibility to meet these conditions and prevent sewage or other pollutants from entering our stormwater drainage system.
The Town began its IDDE program by monitoring stormwater discharge points (outfalls), as required by the Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) General Permit. The results of this work are being used to direct IDDE catchment investigations of stormwater manholes to identify and remove confirmed illicit discharges from our storm drainage system. In order to perform catchment investigations, crews may need to access private property. The engineering firm, Woodard & Curran, along with their subcontractor, SDE Engineering, will be conducting this work on our behalf and will be wearing proper identification.
If you have any questions regarding IDDE catchment investigations or crew activity, please do not hesitate to contact the Department of Public Works at (781) 741-1430.