Sanitary Sewer Overflow Information

The Saugus DPW is responsible for the operation and management of the municipal sanitary sewer infrastructure including collection pipes, sewer pump stations and force mains. The municipal sanitary sewer system conveys wastewater (sewage) from homes and businesses to the Lynn Water & Sewer Commission wastewater treatment plant.

In January 2021, An Act Promoting Awareness of Sewage in Public Waters was signed into law. The Act requires the Town of Saugus to notify you via email about Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO) Events that occur in Saugus.  Please Use Link below to Sign Up. 

Within 2 hours, some SSOs require the Town to send an email advising of the date, time and location of the overflow. Follow-up notifications will be emailed every 8 hours until the overflow stops. Notifications will be provided in English.  Depending on where the SSO is located, the affected lake, pond, river or stream will vary. The notification will advise as to which water bodies are impacted. SSOs requiring notification are uncommon and may happen a few times per year or even less frequently. 

What is a Sanitary Sewer Overflow? 

Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) are a release of untreated or partially treated sewage from a municipal sanitary sewer system.  SSOs occasionally occur in almost every sewer system, even though systems are intended to collect and contain all the sewage that flows into them.  Because SSOs contain raw sewage they may contain harmful bacteria and other pollutants that can make a person sick if ingested. After a SSO occurs it is recommended that use of any affected waterway or water body for contact recreation like swimming, wading, fishing and boating be stopped for 48 hours.

Email Alert Sign Up

If you wish to be notified via email of Saugus SSO Events please Sign Up using this link

https://www.saugus-ma.gov/subscribe

SSO Events – Most Recent Notifications

Recent overflow notifications will be displayed below.

For More Information:

Please click on the following links for more information about SSOs

https://www.mass.gov/guides/sanitary-sewer-systems-combined-sewer-overflows

https://www.epa.gov/npdes/sanitary-sewer-overflow-sso-frequent-questions