Definitions for "Combined sewer overflows"
A pipe that, during rain storms, discharges untreated wastewater from a sewer system that carries both sewage and stormwater. The overflow occurs because a system does not have the capacity to transport and treat the increased flow caused by stormwater runoff. New Bedford is the only Buzzards Bay municipality with CSO discharges.
Overflows, during wet weather, of combined wastewater and stormwater. CSOs happen when flows in the wastewater collection system exceed the capacity of that system. The term "CSO" is also sometimes used to denote a pipe that discharges those overflows.
Where stormwater and sewer overflows are combined.