The Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) set up a $380 million plan to stop combined sewer overflows into Boston area beaches. This combines the Morrissey Blvd. Drainage Conduit Project (MBDC) with the MWRA’s, North Dorchester Bay CSO Storage Tunnel Project (NDBST).

The purpose is improving the quality of water in the North Dorchester Bay. The (MWRA) began plans in 2004, including it in the Supplemental Facilities Plan and Environmental Impact Report, which they put out that year. The project is also a result of court ordered cleanup of the Boston Harbor-a fundamental part of Boston and habitat for wildlife.

This project will allow for an outfall near Mother’s Rest to be removed, conveying storm water flows to either the MBDC or the NDBST depending on the size of the flow.

Combined storm water runoffs happen when the volume of water flow, caused by heavy rain, is too much for the pipes to carry creating a mix of storm water and sewage discharge from outfall pipes. These end up in the Boston Harbor.

The MBDC starts in Savin Hill Cove and extends all the way down to the State’s Police barracks on Day blvd. The project area is surrounded by the businesses, residential neighborhoods, and educational and cultural institutions such as UMass Boston and the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.

Students and staff of UMB have certainly noticed the traffic redirection for quite some time as they enter and leave campus. Unfortunately there will continue to be hold-ups until the completion of the project with Contractors working Monday through Friday from 7:00am to 4:00pm. The project, started in the summer of 2007, is on schedule to finish in the summer of 2009. However, as is the case with most construction projects, that date is subject to change.

The project construction has been taking place on the access road to UMass Boston and proceeds past Boston College High School. Construction is also taking place on Mt. Vernon Street near the JFK/Umass Red Line Station and the Bayside Expo Center parking lot.

Officials connected to the project have been working hard with businesses, residents and institutions regarding traffic issues to insure access to employees, students and visitors.

The Boston Water and Sewer Commission, on the MWRA’s behalf, is working closely to state and federal agencies and departments such as the Mayor’s office, the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Department of Environmental Protection and many others to guarantee its successful completion.

The wastewater systems’ improvement on receiving water is also being evaluated by the MWRA. Information and sampling results can be found on the following website: http://www.mwra.state.ma.us/index.html

For more information on the purpose and construction schedule visit the Boston Water and Sewer Commission website: http://www.bwsc.org/Community/sewer_projects/MBDC/mbdc.htm