DPW Public Notices & Reports

The Department of Public Works plays a significant role in the daily operation of other City departments in responding to requests for service. You can view our public notices and updates covering City maintenance & construction services, water & sewer mains, trash collection and disposal services, and many more.

Notices and Reports

Annual Combined Sewer Overflow Report - CY 2021
This annual report provides the state of our service, CSO updates for 2021, and ongoing CSO elimination efforts.

Maintaining Water Quality in Low-Use Buildings
Maintaining Water Quality During COVID
Building Flushing Information

During the COVID-19 pandemic some buildings and facilities have little or no water running through the pipes and fixtures for an extended period of time. These stagnant water conditions can result in discolored water, lower chlorine levels, higher concentrations of lead and copper and even the proliferation of legionella, under certain building conditions. Fresh water should be drawn into the building water systems and stagnant water flushed out before the buildings are reopened. 

2021 Stormwater Management Plan (PDF)
Learn what Chelsea is doing to reduce contamination in our rivers and waterways. 

Notice of Public Hearing on Municipal Aggregation Plan / Notificación de presentación y audiencia pública
The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities will hold a virtual public hearing to receive comments on July 20, 2021 at 7:00pm. For information on how to participate and how to submit comments, download and read the full Notice of Filing and Public hearing.

Chelsea Electricity Choice / Opción Eléctrica de Chelsea 
Learn how clean energy can make a significant contribution to sustainability and to the local economy.

2020 Storm Water Management Plan (PDF)
Learn what Chelsea is doing to reduce contamination into our rivers and waterways.

Backflow Prevention Education
This explains the need for backflow prevention devices in private homes.

Lead Water Replacement Program -Request for Community Assistance
The City needs your help to identify where these lead service pipes are. Find out how you can help.

Understanding Combined Sewer Overflows
Approximately 70% of Chelsea is serviced by combined sewers. Learn about our challenges in eliminating the CSOs and the number of them in Chelsea.

Annual Combined Sewer Overflow Press Release March 2020
This annual press release provides the state of our service, CSO updates for 2019, and ongoing CSO elimination efforts.

Water and Sewer Rates History 2002- 2019
This document is in PDF format outlining the rate changes from 2002 to 2019.

Charges for Backflow Preventer Device Testing
Effective on September 17, 2019, Public Works will begin charging $65 for a backflow preventer device testing.

FY20 Trash Rates
10% increase imposed. Computer monitors and television removal stickers are now lowered to $25.00 from $45.00.

FY20 Water and Sewer Rates (PDF)
1% combined increase for Tier 1 and Tier 2; 4% combined increase for Tier 3. Learn more about the new rates.

Trash Barrel and Bag Usage Ordinance
The trash barrel ordinance will go into effect January 1, 2020. Learn how this ordinance will affect you.

Plastic Bag Ban
The Ordinance takes effect on December 17, 2019. Learn how this ban affects you.

Approved Excavation Contractors (PDF)
This is a list of City-approved contractors with their company address and phone number.

Capital Improvement Projects
This contains current capital improvement project information, photos, and the roadway pavement.

Excavation Safety and Regulations
Learn about Contractors Registration Process, Documents required, Street Opening Permits, and fees.

Trash Regulations
Learn about how citation works, the standards, and the codes of collection.

Vendor List for Orange Trash Bags
Learn about the City of Chelsea trash bags, retail sales locations, and prices for these trash bags.
lsea trash bags, retail sales locations, and prices for these trash bags.

Capital Improvement Projects

Capital Improvement Projects
Current Projects are:

  1. Lower Broadway Water Main Replacement
  2. Spruce Street/Beech Street Infrastructure
  3. Please be aware of the Parking Restrictions posted by the contractors in the project areas.
CIP Project Photos
Capital Projects - High School Field

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  High School Field                             Half way                                          Lay down process

Capital Projects - Roadway Rehabilitation

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Beacham Street 2                              Beacham Street                                Cook Avenue

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Cook Avenue After pulveriztion              Cottage Street East                         Harvard Street Complete

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Harvard Street Complete                   Springvale Avenue Reclaimation          Willow Street due South

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Willow from Cottage                                                                   Willow Street southerly from Grove Street

Capital Projects - Sidewalks

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 Fourth Street Gradall                        Harvard Street nothwest to Franklin

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Harvard Street Westerly to Franklin     Highland Street - Before                     Highland Street - After

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Pearl Street

Capital Projects - City Hall Tower Restoration

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 What was left of an anchor brick that ties the wall to the building.

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 Demolition of the wall in front of the tie brick.   Before and After                                                      

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Cracks that allowed water in to deteriorate sub structure 

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.Copper repair to eliminate crack.        Gold leaf being applied to repair areas.

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Finish Coating                                     Pointing around Clock Face                 Primer on Clock

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Rusty clock face          
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Deteriorated sub structure frame. The frame to the Dome is wood with copper claded with 23 carrot gold leaf.

Chelsea Electricity Choice

Chelsea Electricity Choice
Choose 100% Clean Electricity!

español

Public Hearing Notice: The City of Chelsea filed a request with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) for approval of its municipal electricity aggregation plan. The DPU will conduct a virtual public hearing to receive comments on this filing using Zoom videoconferencing on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, beginning at 7:00 p.m. For information on how to participate and how to submit comments, download and read the full Notice of Filing and Public hearing. (En Español)

For more details, visit ChelseaElectricityChoice.com

Why Chelsea Electricity Choice?

Chelsea Electricity Choice will include the option to get all of your electricity from clean, renewable sources in New England. By choosing this option, you will make a significant contribution to sustainability and to the local economy. You will help to: 

  • Reduce Chelsea’s greenhouse gas emissions by ensuring that all of the electricity you buy comes from clean sources 
  • Encourage the development of new renewable energy projects in New England by creating more demand for the electricity generated by those projects 
  • Support local businesses and local jobs by buying all of your electricity from New England-based projects. 
The Program Implementation Process 

Implementing a program like Chelsea Electricity Choice is a regulated process that is overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The state regulatory review process can take as long as a year to complete. 

  • The Chelsea City Council voted to pursue aggregation on 10/24/19. 
  • Chelsea will submit its aggregation plan to the State to begin the regulatory review process in late 2020. 
  • While Chelsea’s aggregation plan is being reviewed, the City will begin outreach about the program to the community. 
  • Once the State approves the aggregation plan, the City will issue an RFP for, select, and sign a contract with an electricity supplier. 
  • After the electricity supply contract is signed, the City will conduct a public education campaign to inform the community about program details. 
  • At the conclusion of that public education campaign, the program will launch. 

Learn more about Chelsea Electricity Choice at ChelseaElectricityChoice.com 

What kind of program is Chelsea Electricity Choice? 

Chelsea Electricity Choice is a form of group electricity purchasing known as electricity aggregation. Through Chelsea Electricity Choice, the City will provide Chelsea residents and businesses with an alternative to other electricity supply offers in the marketplace, but without high pressure or fees. 

Chelsea Electricity Choice will not replace Eversource as your electric utility. But it will change the price that Eversource uses to calculate the supply portion of your electricity bill. 

In addition, the program will provide access to cleaner electricity, long-term pricing, and consumer protections*. 

* Chelsea Electricity Choice may also provide savings when compared with Eversource’s prices, but savings cannot be guaranteed. The reason is because Chelsea’s price will be a long-term price, while Eversource’s prices change, and their future prices are not known. 

New Electricity Choices 

The Chelsea Electricity Choice program will provide three new electricity choices that will give you greater control over the price of your electricity and how much of your electricity comes from clean, renewable sources. 

Renewable energy comes from sources like the sun and the wind, which are unlimited. Using electricity from renewable sources is better for our health and for the environment. Energy generated from renewable sources does not cause air pollution, and it does not generate the gasses that cause climate change. 

As a program participant, you will automatically receive a standard amount of clean, renewable electricity, which will be more than the minimum amount required by state law. (That standard amount is still to be determined.) 

Or you can choose from among two other options, including the following: 

  • Opt up to 100% clean, renewable electricity. 
  • Opt down to receive no additional renewable energy in your electricity above minimum amount required by state law, but retain the program benefits of long-term price stability and consumer protections. 
All choices will provide renewable electricity from renewable energy projects in New England.

Participating in the Program 

All Eversource Basic Service customers (Eversource customers who have not signed a contract with an electricity supplier) will be automatically enrolled in Chelsea Electricity Choice, unless they choose not to participate. 

The automatic enrollment model is the state law, but participation is not required. You may opt out of the program before being enrolled and any time after enrollment with no penalty. 

If you have a contract with an electricity supplier at program launch, you will not be automatically enrolled, but you may choose to enroll. 

As a program participant, you will remain an Eversource customer. 

  • Eversource will continue to deliver your electricity, and you will continue to call Eversource if your power goes out. 
  • You will still receive your bill from and pay Eversource. This is the only electricity bill you will receive as a participant in this program. The program price will be used to calculate the Supply portion of your Eversource bill. 
  • If you are eligible for a low-income rate, you will continue to receive that benefit. 
  • If you have solar panels, your net metering credits will still be calculated base. 
Aggregation Plan documents:
Aggregation Plan (PDF)
Education and Outreach Plan (PDF)
Model Electricity Service Agreement (PDF)

Charges for a Backflow Preventer Device Testing

Charges for a Backflow Preventer Device Testing
LAST UPDATED: JULY 20, 2022 - 4:16PM

Effective immediately on September 17, 2019, the Department of Public Works will begin charging for backflow preventer device testing. The fee for testing will be $65 per device, regardless of the number of devices in the property.

A backflow preventer is a mechanical device that prevents water from a building to flow back into the water mains and contaminate our water supply. A backflow preventer is required by law on large users of water, particularly businesses and large buildings. Small residential homes are not affected. Chelsea DPW tests these annually as it is required from MassDEP. The City of Chelsea has not historically charged for these tests, but we are following suit from our surrounding communities (Revere, Everett, Boston, etc.) to charge for these tests. Residential homes, unless in a large building, are not affected.

If you have any questions, please contact Chelsea 311 or 617-466-4209. 

Trash Barrel Ordinance

Trash Barrel Ordinance
The Trash Barrel and Bag Usage Ordinance will take effect on January 1, 2020. Below will help you understand how this ordinance affects you as a resident/property owner. Check out our flyer to learn more about Trash Barrel and Bag Usage Changes.
Why are non City-issued trash barrels a problem?
The City of Chelsea City Council passed this order in February 2019 requiring that all garbage be in City-issued trash barrels or City-issued orange bags in order to better eliminate the rodent population and reduce the amount of litter on the streets and sidewalks. Additionally, the current orange plastic bags (1.65 millimeters thick) are not sufficiently durable, which is why the City has approved the use of thicker, more durable plastic bags (2.4 millimeters thick). 
Who does the rule apply to?
The rule applies to all Chelsea residents that participate in the City’s trash collection program. Properties with private haulers must now have water-tight (sealed) trash barrels. 
When does the rule take effect?
January 1, 2020. The extended period for applicability of this rule until January 1, 2020 is designed to give residents adequate notice of the change and anticipated enforcement. 
How will the rule be enforced?
All trash must be placed in a City-Issued trash barrel (not overflowing barrel) or in an approved, orange trash bag with the City of Chelsea seal. Trash not in a barrel and in a bag other than the orange City of Chelsea bag will result in a fine. Fines start at $50, then go to $150, then to $300, and so on, depending on the offense. 
What should I use instead of my own barrel?
You should use the City-issued barrel, in 64-gallon size or 32-gallon size. Contact Chelsea 311 (617- 466-4209) if you have questions about the barrel or to request an additional barrel. You can submit a request online. For thicker, more durable orange trash bags, find a vendor near you.
Can I keep my trash in orange bags outside my property?
Only on trash day. On all other days, they must be kept inside the home. 
How do I get rid of my current, non City-issued trash barrel?
You can put the bin out on trash collection day with a note attached saying to please take away the barrel. The City’s trash vendor will dispose of it. 
What's the plan for informing residents of the rule?
The City will be conducting outreach to residents about the rule. The City will inform residents via news outlets, the City website, the City newsletter, social media, City Cable TV, community events, flyers in the mail, and this webpage. 

Dumpster Maintenance

Do you have a dumpster on your property?

Follow these four easy steps to make sure your dumpster is prepared for the next rainstorm! Stormwater proofing your dumpster helps local water quality and prevents trash from washing into local waterways. 

1. Place dumpsters under a covered area to prevent water from getting inside.

2. Sweep around the container with a broom and dispose of debris properly. Do not wash trash into a drain.

3. Keep the lid closed at all time to keep rain out and garbage in. Contact your hauler to repair or replace damaged lids. 

4. Contain spills immediately. Have a spill kit available and make sure employees know how to use it. 

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