239Multilevel Environmental Impact Analysis
sewage and storm water) approached capacity with just sanitary ows. Also,
the lack of adequate maintenance resulted in a “leaky” collection system,
and thousands of cubic meters of groundwater inltrated into the sewers
every day. With the sewers owing near capacity, the introduction of storm
water generated even during a moderate storm created an overow and the
combined raw sanitary sewage and storm water was discharged untreated
directly to Boston Harbor and its tributaries.
The Boston wastewater system not only had a signicant adverse environ-
mental impact on the marine ecosystem, but it also created a serious pub-
lic health threat and was in violation of numerous laws and environmenta