SFA Mission

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​The Sewer Fairness Alliance is a non-profit organization whose mission is to  ensure equal protection and maintenance benefits for Chelmsford homeowners with grinder pump systems that homeowners with gravity systems receive.

New Homeowners with Grinder Pumps
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​If you are a new homeowner with a grinder pump, you should first join the Sewer Fairness Alliance. This is how you will keep informed on what your rights are regarding grinder pumps and access to assistance when you need some help.

The town maintains the pumps on an as needed basis. Your pump fails, then it gets fixed. There is no ongoing maintenance for these pumps.  Weston & Sampson is the company that repairs pumps when they fail. They have  proven responsive and efficient in replacing failed pumps.

Things you must be aware of—what should I avoid putting down the drain or garbage disposal?  The column on the right contains a list of things that should never be introduced into a sewer system, but in some cases can damage a grinder pump.
​DO NOT INTRODUCE INTO THE PUMP:
  • ​Coffee Grinds
  • Seafood Shells
  • Baby or Personal Wipes, "Disposable" Diapers—never really flushable and a significant problem *
  • Sanitary Napkins or tampons
  • Plastic or Rubber (including condoms)
  • Powdered Laundry Detergent, Dish Detergent or Pods—use liquid or gel
  • Cooking Oil
  • Hair
  • Sand from Cleaning Steamers
  • Aquarium Stone, Kitty Litter,  Gravel
  • Glass or Metal
  • Socks, Rags, Towels or Cloths​
  • Cotton Swabs
  • Expired Pharmaceuticals
  • Flammable Materials or Paint Thinner
  • Lubricating Oil, Grease, Paint
  • Strong Chemicals or Window Cleaner
  • Gasoline or Diesel Fuel​
* Many personal wipes labeled as ”flushable” are not as flushable as their manufacturers imply.  Anything that does not quickly disintegrate or biodegrade will cause pipes to clog and pumps to jam and costly repairs to homeowners.


Grinder Pump System vs​ Gravity Feed System 

PicturePump house servicing homeowners with a gravity feed system.
     A grinder pump is an enclosed mini wastewater pump station on a homeowner's property that the town is responsible to maintain. Effluent is stored in a tank until it reaches 30 gallons of effluent. When that level is reached, the content of the tank is pumped to the street and then pushed into the gravity system.  Grinder pumps require periodic replacement and do not work in the absence of electric power. When a grinder pump fails, homeowners do not have sanitary facilities.
     Homeowners with gravity feed systems do not require pumps to feed into the sewer system and are unaffected by power outages.
     At the beginning of the sewer project every effort was made to ensure homeowners could tie in with a gravity system. At the end of the sewer project many homeowners were forced to have grinder pumps as the system is less costly to install.
Picture
Grinder pump on individual property.
Website, David Foley
[email protected]