Conceptual Solutions
The Boston Water and Sewer Commission intends to address all coastal flood vulnerable outfalls. The following projects are conceptual solutions developed for an initial group of vulnerable outfalls as a starting point; additional projects are in earlier stages of design, as described in the Implementation Timeline. Several different types of concepts have been developed, spanning four different solution categories:
Storage
Concepts of this type include space for stormwater to be collected during wet weather events when outfalls cannot drain properly by gravity.
Nature Based Solutions
Concepts of this type use a variety of methods to use the natural environment (e.g. ponds or basins) to store stormwater during wet weather events. Concepts of this type can be combined with Conveyance and Pumping for increased benefit.
Pumping
Concepts of this type include one or more pumps used to move water to the ocean when outfalls are unable to function by gravity.
Conveyance
Concepts of this type include diverting flow away from vulnerable outfalls to consolidate flow to one solution (e.g. storage or pumping) and / or diverting high elevation stormwater flows directly to the ocean, if they are able to drain by gravity.
This map shows the locations of outfalls included in the 11 conceptual designs developed for the Coastal Stormwater Discharge Analysis.
Airport Pump Station
A stormwater storage and pumping concept to protect an important outfall serving a large portion of East Boston.
Constitution Beach Pump Station
A concept including outfall diversion, stormwater storage, and pumping to protect an important outfall serving a large portion of East Boston.
East Boston Waterfront Diversion
A stormwater outfall consolidation project to protect a section of East Boston's coastline with one pump station.
East Boston Greenway Pump Station
A small storage tank and pump station to protect an outfall in East Boston.
Schrafft Center Pump Stations
A concept including two pump stations and two storage tanks to protect a combined sewer outfall and a storm sewer outfall in Charlestown.
Columbus Park Pump Station
A concept including a pump station and a storage tank to protect an outfall in the heart of Boston.
Fort Point Channel Storm Surge Barrier
A concept including a storm surge barrier to protect the Fort Point Channel from storm surge and utilize the channel as a storage basin for an integrated pump station. This concept would additionally benefit several outfalls not owned by the Commission.
Davenport Creek Stormwater Park
A concept including a "natural" (surface) stormwater storage system with a pump station that can be used during intense wet weather events. Also includes diversion of high-elevation stormwater flows to existing outfalls elsewhere.
Dorchester Bay Basin
A concept including a movable, navigable gate to store stormwater in the existing basin during wet weather events. Also includes diversion of nearby outfalls to the basin for protection and diversion of high-elevation stormwater flows directly to the ocean to maximize useful storage in the basin. This concept would additionally benefit several outfalls not owned by the Commission.
Joseph Finnegan Stormwater Park
This concept includes diversion of existing outfalls to a "natural" (surface) stormwater storage system with a pump station that can be used during intense wet weather events.
Old Harbor Park Pump Station
A concept including an underground storage tank and pump station, designed to ensure nearby existing outfalls function properly during intense wet weather events.