Wells, septic and the way Sherborn homes work
Sherborn has no public water and no public sewer. According to the town's hazard mitigation plan, residents rely on private wells and septic systems, and the entire town is an aquifer recharge area. Most homes sit on lots of one to three acres, and more than half of the town is open space.
That changes how water emergencies play out. There is no town main with a shutoff at the street. A burst pipe means finding the main valve where the line enters the house or at the pressure tank, and a power outage can stop the well pump and the sump pump at the same time.
Where Sherborn floods
The plan describes 1 percent annual-chance floodplains along the Charles River, Sewall Brook, Course Brook, Doppinger and Dirty Meadow Brooks, Leland Mill Pond and Bogastow Brook, which also runs through Holliston. Locally flooded spots include Farm Road at the Charles River bridge, Coolidge Street, Lake Street, Western Avenue and Nason Hill Road.
It names flood years in 1978, 1979, 1987, 1991, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2010, and one repetitive-loss home flooded in 2010 and again in 2014. Routes 16 and 27 stream crossings are also flood-vulnerable, which is worth knowing if your route to the house crosses water.
When water is spreading in Sherborn
Call (508) 446-9244 day or night. The dispatcher will ask where the water came from, whether you are on a private well and what you have already shut off.
If a septic tank or drain field is part of the problem, the Sherborn Board of Health is the right authority for the system itself. We handle the water damage inside the house, and we tell you honestly when the cause sits outside it.
Sherborn at a glance
Water
Private wells serve the town. The state and the town do not monitor them, so owners test their own water. A 2023 program tested 41 residential wells.
Sewer
Septic systems serve homes, and the Board of Health is the local authority for them.
Permits
The Building Department handles repair permits, and the Board of Health handles wells and septic.
Dispatch
Emergency dispatch is available around the clock for every Sherborn address.
If water is still spreading in Sherborn
Find the main
Look for the main valve where the line enters the house or at the pressure tank. Turn off the pump if you can do so safely.
Mind the outage
If the power is out, a sump pump is not running. Lift valuables off the floor and avoid wading through water.
Stay out of live circuits
If water is near the panel or outlets, call your utility or 911 first.
Call the line
Dial (508) 446-9244 and say you are in Sherborn and on a private well.
Services we provide in Sherborn
From the town center to the lakes and farms, we provide emergency water removal, flood damage restoration for Charles River and brook flooding, water damage cleanup and mold remediation.
Sherborn borders Holliston, and neighbors in Ashland and Medway use the same dispatch line.
Frequently asked questions
Is emergency water removal available in Sherborn?
Yes. Call (508) 446-9244 at any hour and the dispatcher will take your details. If the power is out, tell the dispatcher, since it affects the pump and the way we plan the job. A crew goes out the same day when one is free.
Do you cover every ZIP code in Sherborn?
Sherborn is served by the single ZIP code 01770, from Sherborn Center and the Route 16 and Route 27 area to the lakeside and farm neighborhoods. Call (508) 446-9244 with your address and we will confirm coverage.
Can you help if my sump pump and well pump lost power?
Yes. Call and tell us you are on a private well and what has failed. We extract the water and set drying equipment, and we tell you if a generator or a backup system is worth discussing with an electrician.
Do you handle septic backups in Sherborn?
We clean and sanitize the house after a backup. The septic system itself is a Board of Health and septic contractor matter.
Is Sherborn in the same county as Holliston?
Yes. Both are in Middlesex County.
Water in Sherborn right now?
Call the 24/7 line and tell us you are on a private well.
☎ Call (508) 446-9244