DPW Administration Projects

In addition to overseeing the DPW Department, the DPW Administration oversees and/or works with the following projects.

Pavement Management Program

This enables the City to analyze the streets within the city to determine the worst streets in need of repair. This project has been maintained each year since inception. This is a very important tool for the Department of Public Works in determining the ranking of city streets, what information would be useful when determining the budget and what streets could be done.

Chapter 90 Program

The DPW Administration oversees the Chapter 90 Program; this is the only source of money the DPW has for reconstruction of streets. Project requests are sent to the state and once approval has been given, the street is done during the construction season, usually from April - November (weather permitting). Only repair of drainage is allowed for the roadway reconstruction to be paid with Chapter 90 funds. No water and/or sewer lines are allowed. The DPW Engineering Division oversees the contractor during reconstruction. Chapter 90 funds may also be used to pay for engineering designs of roads. The design of certain roads is crucial and required if the state is reconstructing the roads

Brockton Redevelopment Authority (BRA)

In addition to working with the State on street projects, the office works with the Brockton Redevelopment Authority regarding streets that are to be completed, working in conjunction with the BRA to ensure that vendors are paid and completing reimbursement forms to ensure that all monies are reimbursed by the state to the city. The DPW Engineering Division oversees the reconstruction of any street that is done by the BRA.

Streetlight Program

The Streetlight program is overseen by the Department of Public Works Operations Division. The Operations Division has a private contractor for the purpose of maintaining the street lights owned by the City in an operable, safe condition. All reported inoperable lights are serviced within five working days or less, unless there is a problem with the light fixture and contractor notifies Highway General Foreman for any additional work that maybe required.

News and Announcements

Yard Waste Pick-up

Weekly Curbside Yard Waste collection has begun on March 30. Due to current circumstances beyond our control, the City is requiring a temporary limit of 2 barrels and 8 bags of yard waste per household per week. Due to limited staffing, yard waste collection may fall behind. Please leave curbside - DO NOT BRING BACK IN - and it will be collected as soon as possible. The Recycle Depot at 300 Oak Hill Way accepts yard waste drop off Monday thru Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. No landscapers or contractors - Brockton Residents only.

Thank you for your patience.

Yard Waste Guidelines

Paint Disposal

The Recycle Depot (300 Oak Hill Way) is accepting latex and oil paints, paint thinners, and solvents now through October 31 (some fees apply). See the Depot pamphlet for more information.

Depot pamphlet

Street Opening Permits

Applications for Street Opening Permits open on April 15. Please refer to our Street Opening Permit Requirements for helpful information. Please note: ONLY CONTRACTORS LICENSED WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MAY PERFORM STREET OPENING WORK, INCLUDING DRIVEWAY CUTS, IN THE CITY OF BROCKTON. Please refer to our list of licensed contractors (updated periodically) to check on the license status of a contractor.

Street Opening Permit Application
List of Licensed Contractors

Irrigation Meters

The DPW now offers irrigation meters exclusively for outside water use. Water billed through an irrigation meter is not subject to the sewer charge or to minimum usage requirements. To apply for an irrigation permit, bring your completed application, plumbing plan produced by a MA licensed plumber, and payment to the Utilities office at 39 Montauk Rd. Please review all rules and regulations on the second page of the application before completing the form.

Irrigation Meter Permit Application

Sensus

The Sensus Customer Portal is a service for City of Brockton, Department of Public Works - Water & Sewer Divisions customers that replaces the AquaHawk system. Customers interested in using the portal must register to create a sign on: https://my-broc.sensus-analytics.com/login.html#/signin/
A video on how to set up an account can be found here:
https://sensus-training.com/SA/admin/newAccount.mp4

StormWater Management Program

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s): The NPDES MS4 permit requires, municipalities to develop and implement a comprehensive Stormwater Management Program (SWMP) that must include pollution prevention measures, treatment or removal techniques, monitoring, use of legal authority, and other appropriate measures to control the quality of stormwater discharged through infiltration or to the storm drains and thence to waters of the United States: that is groundwater, brooks, streams and Rivers .

DPW Engineering Division

508-580-7139

FY 2020 Mission Statement

The Engineering division is responsible for maintaining property plans and records, including sewer assessments, sidewalk/curbing betterments, and utility lines, as well as drafting zoning maps and legal property descriptions.

Engineering researches all deeds and related materials in support of the Assessors’ Office, keeps the 182 Assessors’ plans up-to-date, and provides deeds and/or legal descriptions for sewer, water, and drainage easements, street layouts, corner takings, abandonment, and city land sales. The Division also provides estimates for city roadway and drainage projects and reviews and approves bills for contracted construction work.

A Public Works Construction License and a Street Opening Permit are requirements of working within public rights-of-way and for installing or repairing city utilities on private property. Instructions for obtaining and completing these applications can be found in the Documents, Forms, and Permits section of the website.

Documents, Forms, and Permits

The Department of Public Works Engineering Division performs all services and duties as enumerated in the Revised Ordinances of the City of Brockton, section 2-344.

Perform and/or direct all types of municipal engineering services such as sewer and drain installations, street layouts and surveys, roadway and curb/sidewalk construction and related surveys ensuring compliance with the American with Disabilities Act, and maintain all plans and records using sound engineering practices.

Retrieve and review all deeds from the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds to identify properties and to confirm title and accuracy of all metes and bounds shown in support of the Assessor’s Office, keeping and maintaining records of all changes and keeping the 182 Assessor’s Plans up to date.  Record and/or retrieve City liens, deeds, and other instruments and plans at the Plymouth County Registry of Deeds and/or Land Court upon request.

Provide deed and other legal descriptions for the taking of water, sewer and drainage easements, street layouts, corner takings, abandonments, and for other City land takings, property sales, etc. as needed.

Maintain all records of sewer assessments, sidewalk and curbing betterments and other liens in support of the Office of the Treasurer/Collector.

Draft proposed changes to the Zoning Districts and provide the legal descriptions required for City Council action.  Keep the City Zoning Map up to date.

Obtain surveys and plans and provide legal description for all street layouts, acceptances or abandonments.  Provide data, design review, orders of taking, names of all abutters, recording services, and attend related City Council meeting and public hearings.

Provide Resident Engineering Service on all City roadway construction or reconstruction projects and to the Brockton Redevelopment Authority (BRA).  Provide a General Construction Inspector on all private projects affecting City streets, sidewalks, utilities and other public properties.

Process all Street Opening Permits.  Process all Contractor License Applications, reviewing qualifications, references, insurance and bonding requirements, etc., and issue a Department of Public Works Construction License.

Review and evaluate development plans, building permits, technical data and reports, etc., for compliance with State and Federal standards, and the ordinances of the City of Brockton in support of the Planning Board, ZBA, Building Department and other City agencies.  Advise the public in the preparation of a variety of plans and applications prior to presentation to City Boards and Commissions.

Understands and apply the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Brockton and of the Subdivision Control Law, the Rivers Act, the Wetlands Protection Act, and the Clean Water Act.

Contribute to the development of plans, ordinances, subdivision control rules and regulations, and site review policy.  Research, analyze and evaluate each using recognized principles and practices of the engineering community.

Provide all data necessary for “Legal Lot Determination” for the Zoning Enforcement Officer, City Solicitor’s Office, ZBA, Etc.

Provide a member to the Board of Survey as required by MGL.

DPW Highway Division

508-580-7810

FY 2020 Mission Statement

The Highway Section is responsible for repaving and maintenance of all public roadways within the City of Brockton.

 

An important aspect of the Operations Division is snow removal, sanding and salting operations to provide for safe public access to the City’s main and side roads, this effort is done by either the city’s vehicles or private contractors.

Highway Trucks
The Maintenance Section is responsible for the maintenance and procurement of DPW city-owned vehicles and equipment.

 

  • The Maintenance Section is also responsible for the procurement of fuel and the other fueling of city vehicles for the Department of Public Works, Parks, Police, and other city departments.
  • The Operations Division maintains communication with private contractors, maintenance of their contracts and insurance information and recording and payment of invoices.
  • The Operations Division maintains roads by filling potholes and trenches and responds to emergency wind and/or rain related incidents.
  • Street sweeping activities of all neighborhoods are completed at least twice yearly, cleaning of catch basins and rivers, maintenance of the city drains also falls under this division.
  • Special projects in conjunction with private utility companies for the safe removal of damaged trees and the planting hundreds of new trees have also become of great importance.
  • Responsible for the installation and maintenance of city owned street streetlights within the City of Brockton.

DPW Refuse Division

508-580-7827

FY 2020 Mission Statement

  • The Department of Public Works Operations Division – Refuse Section’s mission is to administer the City’s Pay-as-You-Throw solid waste and single-stream recycling service and to address litter and dumping issues by enforcing the city’s trash and dumping ordinances, maintaining and emptying public trash cans in city parks and playgrounds and litter or dumping clean-ups on public property.  The department educates resident on proper recycling, solid waste and yard waste guidelines through council and ward meetings, community meetings, and school presentations, social workshops on an individual basin in person or via phone or electronic communication.
  • The Refuse Section acts as the city’s liaison with the refuse collection company, Republic Services.
  • Answers all calls and investigates all complaints from private citizens regarding refuse collections, taking appropriate remedial action when required.
  • Works closely with the Board of Health, Building Department and Mayor’s Office to ensure cleanup of vacant lots and remote areas where debris has been illegally dumped or otherwise abandoned.  Does follow up work and investigates all persons who illegally dump within the city; gives tickets and attends housing court.
  • Works closely with neighborhood cleanup groups by helping to coordinate their efforts, and by picking up trash and other debris that they have collected.   Organizes Keep Brockton Beautiful and Hazardous Waste Days.

DPW Water Division

Repair/Emergency 508-580-7865 Billing Questions 508-580-7143

FY 2020 Mission Statement

Brockton intends to send the PE out by mail to all customers. The Avon Reservoir has been taken offline to remove this source of PFAS6 from the drinking water system.
PFAS public education

The Department of Public Works - Water Division, (an Enterprise funded entity) is responsible to deliver high quality, safe drinking water throughout the City.

Maintaining all water lines and performing 24-hour emergency service to the residents of Brockton and homes connected to our system, regularly updating and replacing old, undersized and inefficient mains to improve service, quality and safety.  Installation of new and reconnected water services, mark out water services for all utility companies and contractors, inspect for proper installation of back flow devices where required.  Register and permit all wells and inspect and ensure that there are not any cross connections to the water system, install and inspect hydrants, perform flow tests and maintain regular flushing and leak detection programs.  Regularly maintain, test, install and replace meters and remote reading devices throughout the City.  Perform a yearly hydrant flushing program to assist in preventing corrosion of the water lines.

  • The Water Division works in conjunction with Veolia Water, LLC, maintaining and monitoring existing water sources including the City’s main source of water, the Silver Lake Reservoir and its secondary source of water, the Brockton Reservoir.
  • The Water Division also works with Aquaria, LLC, owner of the desalination plant located in Dighton, ensuring the quality, pressure and amount of the City’s third source of water.
The Water Division maintains and repairs over 320 miles of water mains, approximately 23,000 active water service account, over 3,000 hydrants and over 5,500 valves in the City of Brockton, Towns of Avon, Hanson, Halifax, Pembroke and Whitman.

The Water Division also maintains the two twenty-four inch (24”) transmission mains, and one thirty (30”) water main including maintenance on the actual mains and brush cutting of the easements.

There are two pumping stations located in Brockton that maintain the height of the water storage tanks, The Oak Street Pumping Station and the East Ashland Street Pumping Station.  There are four water storage tanks in the City, the Twin Tanks, located on South Street in Avon; the Irving Avenue Tank, located on Irving Avenue and the Cary Hill Tank, located on North Cary Street.  The pressure of the pumping stations and the levels of the storage tanks as well as the city pressure are monitored at Montauk Road.

The Water Division operates on a 16 hour basis and is covered by 4 shifts:
  • The day shift operates from 7:00AM to 4:00PM
  • The evening shift operates from 4:00PM to 12:00 AM
  • The swing shift which covers the regular days off of the 4:00PM-12:00AM shift and the weekends.
The Water Division works in conjunction with the Operations Division providing personnel, vehicles and heavy equipment during weather emergencies as well as provide assistance with sanding and any other duties required to ensure the safety of the citizens of the City.

Lead and Drinking Water

Does your water service line have lead?

The City of Brockton is doing an inventory of the water service lines in our community. This inventory will find out if your service line is made of lead. A service line is a pipe that connects the water main in the street to building plumbing.

The drinking water from the treatment plant that travels through the street water mains to your house is virtually lead free. Lead service lines, lead solder in indoor plumbing, and lead in older plumbing fixtures can cause lead to enter your drinking water.

Exposure to lead in drinking water can cause serious health effects in all age groups. Infants and children can have decreased in IQ and attention span. Lead exposure can lead to new learning and behavior problems or exacerbate existing learning and behavior problems. The children of women who are exposed to lead before or during pregnancy can have increased risk of these adverse health effects. Adults can have increased risks of heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney or nervous system problems.

Who is responsible for the service line?
Who is responsible image

In Brockton, the water utility is responsible for the service line from the water main in the street to the curb stop valve (typically at the property line). The property owner is responsible for the service line from the curb stop valve to the plumbing inside your home.

We need your help to learn if you have a lead service line.

You can take the following steps to learn if you have a lead service line:

  1. Get a strong magnet and a key or coin.
  2. Find where your service line enters your building. There will likely be a valve in a basement, crawl space, or utility closet on the street-side of your building.
  3. Scratch the pipe coming from the street with the key or coin, then hold the magnet and see if it sticks. Then compare your results to the options below:
    1. If the material is orange or copper-colored like a penny and a magnet does not stick, this part of the service line is copper.
    Copper Pipes
    1. If the material is dull gray, and a strong magnet sticks to it, the part of the service line is galvanized steel.
    Steel Pipes
    1. If the material is soft and easily scratched by a key or coin, gray but shines brightly, and a magnet does NOT stick to it, the pipe is lead.
    Lead Pipes
    1. Submit a photo of your service line and fill out the form in the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection Lead Service Line Identification Web App (please report results even if your line is not lead)
    Have questions?

    Phone: 508-580-7135

    Email: [email protected]

    Do you think you have a lead service line?
    1. What steps can I take to protect myself if I think I have lead in my water?
      1. Run cold water before using.
        1. The longer the water stays in the plumbing, the more lead it may have. If the water in the faucet has been sitting for more than six hours, run water for at least five minutes before using it. Showering and flushing the toilet also help clear out your water line.
      2. Use cold water for cooking, drinking, and making baby formula.
        1. Lead dissolves into hot water more easily than cold water. If you need hot water, draw cold water and then heat it. It is safe to shower, wash dishes, and do laundry with hot water from the tap. Lead does not affect humans through the skin. Boiling water does NOT reduce lead.
      3. Replace your home’s internal plumbing that may have lead.
        1. Potential lead sources include lead pipes, lead-based solder, and brass fixtures and valves (including faucets).
      4. Remove and clean faucet strainers.
        1. Every three months, remove and clean strainers at the tip of faucets to remove build up.
          1. Remove the faucet strainers from all taps.
          2. Rinse the faucet strainers.
          3. Run the water without a strainer for 3 to 5 minutes.
          4. Replace faucet strainers.
      1. Test your water for lead.
        1. Send your water to a Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection approved laboratory or use EPA-approved test kits. If the results show lead levels at or greater than 15 parts per billion (ppb), call the City of Brockton at 508-580-7135 so we can look for a cause.
        1. Use filters.
          1. Consider using a water filter. Be sure the filter you choose (faucet, refrigerator or pitcher filter), is approved to reduce lead (NSF 53/42-certified). Visit https://info.nsf.org/Certified/dwtu/listings_leadreduction.asp to learn more about water filters.
        2. Test your child’s blood for lead.
          1. Your local doctor or pediatrician can perform a blood test for lead and provide you with information about the health effects of lead. Call the Brockton Department of Public Health at 508-894-1480 or the MA Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 800-532-9571 to learn more, including where you can have your child’s blood tested.

Some citizens may receive a postcard to identify their water service material entering the building. The postcard's image is attached.

Water/Sewer Documents & Forms

DPW Sewer Division

Repair/Emergency 508-580-7880 Billing Questions 508-580-7137

FY 2020 Mission Statement

The Department of Public Works - Sewer Division, (an Enterprise funded entity) is responsible to maintain all sewer lines throughout the City.

Maintaining all sewer lines and performing 24-hour emergency service to the residents of Brockton and those connected to our system, regularly updating and replacing old, undersized and inefficient lines to improve service, quality and safety.  Installation of new and repairing of existing sewer services, mark out sewer services for all utility companies and contractors, inspect new sewer services and mains to ensure existing sewer services are not disturbed.

  • The Sewer Division works in conjunction with Veolia Water, LLC, maintaining the overall operations of the Wastewater Treatment Plant located at 303 Oak Hill Way. The Wastewater Treatment Plant also services the Towns of Abington and Whitman as well as Stonehill College in Easton.
The Sewer Division maintains and repairs over 320 miles of sewer mains, approximately 23,000 active sewer service accounts.

The Sewer Division works in conjunction with the Department of Environmental Protection to detect E-coli in the drain systems. The Sewer Division maintains the City's sewer easement brush cutting and removal of trees.

There are two pumping stations located at Beaver Brook and Coweeset Brook.

The Water Division operates on a 16 hour basis and is covered by 3 shifts:
  • The day shift operates from 7:00AM to 4:00PM
  • The evening shift operates from 4:00PM to 12:00 AM
  • The swing shift which covers the regular days off of the 4:00PM-12:00AM shift and weekends.
The Sewer Division works in conjunction with the Operations Division providing personnel, vehicles and heavy equipment during weather emergencies as well as provide assistance with sanding and any other duties required to ensure the safety of the citizens of the City.
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