PRESERVING THE FOUNDATIONS OF BOSTON'S HISTORIC STRUCTURES
Established by the Boston City Council in 1986 to monitor groundwater levels in sections of the City where the integrity of building foundations, supported by wood pilings, is threatened by low groundwater levels.
The next meeting date is:
Thursday July 11th, 4PM at the Lenox Hotel
Meeting agendas are posted in the Public Notices section on the City of Boston website.
Thursday July 11th, 4PM at the Lenox Hotel
Meeting agendas are posted in the Public Notices section on the City of Boston website.
The image above illustrates the importance of wood pile and groundwater elevation relationship.
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Wood piles remain sound and support the weight of the building if the groundwater elevation remains above the pile cut off elevation.
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Wood piles remain sound and support the weight of the building if the groundwater elevation remains above the pile cut off elevation.
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If the cause of a groundwater decline is identified and remedied, groundwater levels recover and wood piles become resubmerged, ceasing decay.
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The BGwT utilizes a network of over 800+ groundwater observation wells installed in the public way, in the filled land areas of the City to monitor groundwater levels.
Groundwater levels can be influenced by leakage into and out of sewers, storm drains, tunnels, deep basements, and other below grade structures. In addition, environmental factors such as precipitation, season, and temperature play a role in influencing levels. |
The BGwT shares the groundwater level data with the public (information center image above), works with City & State agencies who own & maintain underground infrastructure to review that data, and remedy areas where levels are low and may be influenced by that infrastructure.
Boston Groundwater Trust Video Series
Wood Piles: Preserving Boston's First Deep Foundations
Part 1 of 3 (5:27) |
Wood Piles: Preserving and Maintaining Groundwater Levels
Part 2 of 3 (3:15) |
Wood Piles:
The Process of Underpinning Part 3 of 3 (4:54) |
“Together we can make Boston the greenest City in the country and one whose future is as bright as our foundations are strong .”
— Honorable Mayor Michelle Wu, City of Boston
Groundwater Trust Forum 2022