Shauna Sullivan, commissioner of the Department of Public Works, reviewed the city's stormwater program and ordinance adopted in June 2022 and told the Public Facilities Committee that Newton's requirements "surpassed almost all other municipalities in Massachusetts." She said the ordinance requires major projects to retain 100% of the 100-year storm volume (defined in the presentation as 8.78 inches in 24 hours) and that licensed design engineers must submit stormwater reports and a site plan for ISD and engineering review as part of the building permit process.

Sullivan described implementation steps: stormwater mitigation systems are designed based on soil test pits and percolation tests; inspection is by construction inspectors and the utilities division issues a stormwater management certificate of compliance (SMCC). The SMCC must be renewed every five years with annual operation and maintenance records submitted in NewGov, and maintenance plans are recorded at the Registry of Deeds.

On regulatory obligations, staff said Newton must comply with its NPDES MS4 permit and EPA phosphorus reduction requirements. The city is completing Phase 1 of a phosphorus-control plan and beginning Phase 2 prioritization. Sullivan said the city applied for a MassDEP state revolving fund (SRF) grant for a citywide asset inventory of private and municipal stormwater structural controls and expected to hear a decision in the next few months. She said the city has already received a separate $250,000 for private/municipal stormwater mechanisms.

Sullivan told the committee the city previously cleaned about a third of catch basins per year using contractors but has expanded the program and "are now contracted to clean every catch basin in the city once a year going forward." The FY26 budget will add a prioritized stream/culvert cleaning line item with $500,000 dedicated to cleaning.

Committee members asked whether stormwater projects designed to meet phosphorus targets will also be evaluated for flood mitigation benefits; staff said such benefits will be part of the design phase and that some projects will provide substantial co-benefits for runoff control. Councilors also discussed incentives or recognition for preserving mature trees as part of stormwater mitigation; staff said landscaping is considered in the ordinance and related rules.

On other infrastructure, staff provided updates on water system work (continuing unidirectional flushing; more than 90% of ~29,000 meters replaced; one remaining lead service line and eight private-side unknowns; a 0% interest MWRA loan program previously used to remove lead lines; plans to remove 146 galvanized services in five years) and sewer projects (Area 9 in design; Area 10 planned after Area 9; HVAC upgrades at pump stations; Oldham Road pump station near completion). The city reported leak-detection work in FY24 identified 25 leaks and estimated leakage at roughly 449,280 gallons per day; staff plan twice-yearly detection in FY26.

Bullows Pond rehabilitation was discussed: staff met with the working group and said state dam-safety staff will appear at the committee meeting on March 5 to discuss the project. Sullivan said the city has put forward a plan and continues to meet with the working group.

Nut graf: The presentation covered regulatory compliance (MS4/phosphorus), capital work across water, sewer and stormwater systems, new annual catch-basin cleaning citywide, and pending grants and budget items; committee members pressed staff to show homeowner-facing diagrams and to ensure designs consider both phosphorus reduction and localized flood mitigation.