14
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Thunderstorm Impacts on Wastewater System Operations July 17, 2019
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority
Thunderstorm Impacts on Wastewater System Operations
July 17, 2019
3
Thunderstorms
• Thunderstorms frequently occur in the afternoon and early evening during the late Spring and Summer months and their intensity and track are hard to predict
4
Thunderstorm Staffing Preparations
Precautionary staffing necessary due to the unpredictable nature of thunderstorms
• Operations staff required at:
⁻ 3 CSO Treatment Facilities (Prison Point, Cottage Farm and Somerville Marginal)
⁻ 3 Northern Headworks (Chelsea Creek, Ward Street and Columbus Park)
⁻ 2 roving crews to respond to operational issues
• Maintenance staff stationed to address equipment issues in a timely manner at:
⁻ Chelsea Maintenance Facility, Chelsea Creek, Ward Street and Prison Point
5
Severe Weather Outlook for June 29, 2019
National Weather Service Forecast:• Thunderstorms and showers• Chance of rain 60%
6
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Boston for Saturday June 29, 2019
7
Rainfall Totals for June 29, 20190.38”
0.79”
0.74”
0.66”
1.82”
JUNE 29th THUNDERSTORM
Measured Area Rainfall:
Hayes PS: 0.38 inchesColumbus Pk HW: 0.66 inchesWard Street HW: 0.74 inches Hanscom: 0.79 inchesChelsea Creek HW: 1.82 inches
v Chelsea Admin Building Rain Gauge registered an instantaneous rainfall rateof 12.26 in/hr at 4:30 pm
8
Severe Weather Outlook for Sunday, June 30, 2019
National Weather Service Forecast:• Thunderstorms and showers• Chance of rain 80%
9
Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Sunday, June 30, 2019
10
Rainfall Totals for Sunday, June 30, 2019
0.42”
0.16”
0.08”0.38”
0.19”
JUNE 30th THUNDERSTORM
Measured Area Rainfall:
Hayes PS: 0.42 inchesColumbus Pk HW: 0.38 inchesWard Street HW: 0.08 inches Hanscom: 0.16 inchesChelsea Creek HW: 0.19 inches
11
Rainfall Totals From June 29th to July 1st
12
Chelsea Creek Headworks Flow
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
0
50
100
150
200
250
3001
2:15
:00
AM
1:3
0:00
AM
2:4
5:00
AM
4:0
0:00
AM
5:1
5:00
AM
6:3
0:00
AM
7:4
5:00
AM
9:0
0:00
AM
10:
15:0
0 A
M
11:
30:0
0 A
M
12:
45:0
0 P
M
2:0
0:00
PM
3:1
5:00
PM
4:3
0:00
PM
5:4
5:00
PM
7:0
0:00
PM
8:1
5:00
PM
9:3
0:00
PM
10:
45:0
0 P
M
12:
00:0
0 A
M
1:1
5:00
AM
2:3
0:00
AM
3:4
5:00
AM
5:0
0:00
AM
6:1
5:00
AM
7:3
0:00
AM
8:4
5:00
AM
10:
00:0
0 A
M
11:
15:0
0 A
M
12:
30:0
0 P
M
1:4
5:00
PM
3:0
0:00
PM
4:1
5:00
PM
5:3
0:00
PM
6:4
5:00
PM
8:0
0:00
PM
9:1
5:00
PM
10:
30:0
0 P
M
11:
45:0
0 P
M
RAIN
FALL
(IN
CHES
/15
MIN
)
FLO
W (M
GD
)CHELSEA CREEK HEADWORKS FLOWS
JUNE 29-30 2019
Chelsea Creek HW Rainfall Chelsea Creek HW Total Flow
1.6
0.19 0.14 in.
13
Ward Street Headworks Flow
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
12:1
5:00
AM
1:30
:00
AM
2:45
:00
AM
4:00
:00
AM
5:15
:00
AM
6:30
:00
AM
7:45
:00
AM
9:00
:00
AM
10:1
5:00
AM
11:3
0:00
AM
12:4
5:00
PM
2:00
:00
PM
3:15
:00
PM
4:30
:00
PM
5:45
:00
PM
7:00
:00
PM
8:15
:00
PM
9:30
:00
PM
10:4
5:00
PM
12:0
0:00
AM
1:15
:00
AM
2:30
:00
AM
3:45
:00
AM
5:00
:00
AM
6:15
:00
AM
7:30
:00
AM
8:45
:00
AM
10:0
0:00
AM
11:1
5:00
AM
12:3
0:00
PM
1:45
:00
PM
3:00
:00
PM
4:15
:00
PM
5:30
:00
PM
6:45
:00
PM
8:00
:00
PM
9:15
:00
PM
10:3
0:00
PM
11:4
5:00
PM
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
FLO
W (M
GD
)
RAIN
FALL
(IN
CHES
/15
MIN
)
WARD STREET HEADWORKS FLOWJUNE 29-30 2019
Ward Street HW Rainfall Ward Street HW Total Flow
14
Prison Point CSO Inlet Elevation
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
80
85
90
95
100
105
110
12:
15:0
0 A
M
1:1
5:00
AM
2:1
5:00
AM
3:1
5:00
AM
4:1
5:00
AM
5:1
5:00
AM
6:1
5:00
AM
7:1
5:00
AM
8:1
5:00
AM
9:1
5:00
AM
10:
15:0
0 A
M
11:
15:0
0 A
M
12:
15:0
0 P
M
1:1
5:00
PM
2:1
5:00
PM
3:1
5:00
PM
4:1
5:00
PM
5:1
5:00
PM
6:1
5:00
PM
7:1
5:00
PM
8:1
5:00
PM
9:1
5:00
PM
10:
15:0
0 P
M
11:
15:0
0 P
M
12:
15:0
0 A
M
1:1
5:00
AM
2:1
5:00
AM
3:1
5:00
AM
4:1
5:00
AM
5:1
5:00
AM
6:1
5:00
AM
7:1
5:00
AM
8:1
5:00
AM
9:1
5:00
AM
10:
15:0
0 A
M
11:
15:0
0 A
M
12:
15:0
0 P
M
1:1
5:00
PM
2:1
5:00
PM
3:1
5:00
PM
4:1
5:00
PM
5:1
5:00
PM
6:1
5:00
PM
7:1
5:00
PM
8:1
5:00
PM
9:1
5:00
PM
10:
15:0
0 P
M
11:
15:0
0 P
M
RA
INFA
LL (
INC
HE
S/1
5 M
IN)
LEV
EL
(FE
ET
MD
C)
PRISON POINT CSO INLET LEVEL
JUNE 29-30 2019
Chelsea Creek HW Rainfall Prison Point Inlet Structure Level
0.14
in.
1.67
in.
0.19
in.
15
Somerville Marginal CSO Inlet Elevation
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
1.4
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
12:
15:0
0 A
M
1:1
5:00
AM
2:1
5:00
AM
3:1
5:00
AM
4:1
5:00
AM
5:1
5:00
AM
6:1
5:00
AM
7:1
5:00
AM
8:1
5:00
AM
9:1
5:00
AM
10:
15:0
0 A
M
11:
15:0
0 A
M
12:
15:0
0 P
M
1:1
5:00
PM
2:1
5:00
PM
3:1
5:00
PM
4:1
5:00
PM
5:1
5:00
PM
6:1
5:00
PM
7:1
5:00
PM
8:1
5:00
PM
9:1
5:00
PM
10:
15:0
0 P
M
11:
15:0
0 P
M
12:
15:0
0 A
M
1:1
5:00
AM
2:1
5:00
AM
3:1
5:00
AM
4:1
5:00
AM
5:1
5:00
AM
6:1
5:00
AM
7:1
5:00
AM
8:1
5:00
AM
9:1
5:00
AM
10:
15:0
0 A
M
11:
15:0
0 A
M
12:
15:0
0 P
M
1:1
5:00
PM
2:1
5:00
PM
3:1
5:00
PM
4:1
5:00
PM
5:1
5:00
PM
6:1
5:00
PM
7:1
5:00
PM
8:1
5:00
PM
9:1
5:00
PM
10:
15:0
0 P
M
11:
15:0
0 P
M
RA
INFA
LL (
INC
HE
S/1
5 M
IN)
LEV
EL
(FE
ET
MD
C)
SOMERVILLE MARGINAL CSO INLET LEVEL
JUNE 29-30 2019
Somerville Remote Rain Gauge Somerville Marginal Inlet Level
0.97
0.39 0.16
in.
