Clean Water Current

With community engagement essential for effective wastewater management, the South Essex Sewerage District (SESD) in Salem, Massachusetts enhanced its website to better inform and involve residents in efforts to keep local waters and the environment clean. Recognizing that the public plays a critical role in protecting infrastructure and maintaining service efficiency, the District’s new website provides clear, practical guidance on how community members can help prevent sewer system disruptions caused by improper disposal practices.

This initiative focuses on reducing the amount of wipes and other non-flushable items entering the wastewater system—materials that have caused costly damage to SESD’s aging infrastructure. “Most residents aren’t aware that something as small as a baby wipe or disinfecting wipe can cause thousands of dollars in damage to our infrastructure,” said Erik Nowak, Superintendent of Maintenance. “That damage not only drives up repair costs but can also threaten our environment.”

To combat these challenges, SESD’s updated website serves as a hub for education and outreach. It highlights simple steps residents and businesses can take to prevent pollution, avoid sewer backups, and extend the life of critical equipment. The site also features a news feed with real-time updates on system issues, plant operations, and community advisories.

Last year alone, SESD spent over $75,000 on labor costs unclogging pumps due to wipes and other debris flushed down toilets and drains. With more than 25 years since the last plant-wide upgrade, replacement parts are increasingly difficult to find—making public cooperation more important than ever.

 By promoting environmental stewardship and encouraging responsible wastewater practices, SESD continues to fulfill its mission to protect public health and the quality of local waterways. Established in 1925, the South Essex Sewerage District provides wastewater treatment and conveyance services to approximately 190,000 residents across Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, and Salem, as well as parts of Middleton and several state entities on the North Shore of Massachusetts.

NACWA awarded the South Essex Sewerage District a 2025 National Environmental Achievement Award in the Public Information & Education: Media category for advancing environmental awareness through wastewater education. Congratulations to everyone involved!