GROUNDWATER & UNDERGROUND INFRASTRUCTURE
Groundwater levels can be influenced by multiple factors. Environmental factors and trends related to precipitation, seasons, and temperature. In addition, factors related to underground infrastructure. Groundwater can leak into and out of sewers, storm drains, private sewer laterals, and other below grade structures. The image below from the Boston Water & Sewer Commission (BWSC) highlights some of that infrastructure. If the infrastructure in the image below develops a leak groundwater can flow into it causing a groundwater depression in the vicinity and potentially exposing wood piles in that area to air.
Through the City-State Groundwater Working Group the Trust works with the entities who build and maintain the many sewers, drains, tunnels, manholes, and other infrastructure. The ArcGIS StoryMaps below provide a detailed approach of how low groundwater levels were identified by the Trust and how a particular entity inspected and eventually repaired that deficient infrastructure to restore groundwater levels.