Notices

The City of Somerville has declared a Heat Emergency, effective Wednesday-Saturday, July 1-4, due to the dangerously hot temperatures forecast for this week. Feels-like temperatures around 110 degrees are expected, and temperatures are not expected to cool down much overnight. The City is making bottled water free and available to anyone who needs it at City Hall and all Somerville Public Library locations during regular business hours on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (while supplies last).

The National Weather Service has issued an Extreme Heat Warning for Wednesday through Saturday, July 1-4. An Extreme Heat Warning means that dangerous heat is expected. The forecast conditions can cause heat illness if proper precautions are not taken. Avoid outdoor activities, if possible, especially during the heat of the day, and stay out of the direct sun. Stay indoors in air-conditioned spaces as much as possible. Those without air conditioning are encouraged to find a place to cool down. Consider City buildings, listed below, or staying with nearby family or friends who have air conditioning. Please be advised that although the Heat Warning is forecast to end Saturday evening, the weather is expected to remain hot through the holiday weekend.

Staying Cool in Somerville

Air-Conditioned City Buildings:

• If you don’t have air conditioning, you can seek relief from the heat in air-conditioned City buildings. 

• Anyone is welcome to visit the Somerville Public Libraries during their regular hours. All library locations will be closed Saturday, July 4 for Independence Day. Regular hours resume Sunday, July 5. For locations and hours, visit somervillepubliclibrary.org.

• Seniors are also welcome to visit Council on Aging Senior Centers on weekdays. For locations, hours, and activity information, visit somervillema.gov/coa.

Outdoor Water Features

• All splash pads are currently open, including Lincoln Park.

• Many Somerville city parks and playgrounds have water features that run from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The water sprays are on timers and stop for 20 minutes between cycles.

• Find a water feature: Water feature information is available in multiple languages under the “Stay Cool Outside” section of the City’s Keep Cool webpage at somervillema.gov/keepcool.

Outdoor Pools

• For more information on Somerville pools, visit somervillema.gov/pools.

• Dilboy Pool’s regular hours are daily 11 a.m. - 7 p.m. for the public. Early morning lap swim time is Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. More information at bit.ly/dilboypool. Please note: Dilboy Pool will be open normal hours on Saturday, July 4.

• Latta Brothers Memorial Pool at Foss Park is open daily 11:15 a.m. - 6:45 p.m. The spray deck is open 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Latta Pool is a state-owned pool managed and operated by the Commonwealth.

o More information is available at mass.gov/swimming. Please note: Latta Pool will be open normal hours on Saturday, July 4.

• Free: Admission to Dilboy Pool is free for all. Admission to Latta Pool is free for State residents, including Somerville residents.

With public transportation, you can also visit pools in nearby communities. See other regional pools at somervillema.gov/pools.

Heat safety tips and ways to keep cool in and around Somerville are below. Safety tips are also available in multiple languages on the City’s website at somervillema.gov/keepcool.

Top 5 Heat Safety Tips: 

1. Never leave children or pets unattended in a car or other vehicle, even for a quick errand and even if the windows are open. In the forecast heat, car interiors could reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes.

2. Stay indoors as much as possible during extreme heat. Reschedule outdoor activities, if possible, especially during the hottest part of the day, and avoid direct sunlight.

3. Drink plenty of water. Avoid alcohol and caffeinated or very sugary drinks. 

4. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothing.   

5. Stay informed: Follow City social media pages and contact 311 for the latest information on places you can visit to cool off.  Any potential updates will be posted to somervillema.gov.

Be a Good Neighbor:  

• Check on relatives, friends, and neighbors who don’t have air conditioning or who are more likely to be affected by the heat. These groups may include older adults, infants and children, people with chronic medical conditions, and people who are pregnant.  

• If you see anyone out in the heat who appears immobile or disoriented, ALWAYS call 911 so they can receive the necessary help.  If in doubt about whether to call 911, always call.

Stay Cool Without Air Conditioning:

• Stay hydrated.

• Take a cool shower or bath or hold a cold washcloth on your neck or wrists.

• Close the curtains or blinds on windows that face the sun.

• Close the doors to rooms that don’t have vents or registers and aren’t being used.

• Stay on your lowest floor because heat rises.

• Use your fan in or next to an open window. At night, use a fan to bring in cooler air from outside. During the day, turn the fan around to vent hot air out.

• Don’t use a fan to blow directly on you when temperatures are 95°F or higher.

• Turn off unneeded lights and electronics, and avoid using your stove, oven, and other appliances that generate heat, like a dishwasher or dryer.

Learn to Recognize Signs and Symptoms of Heat Illnesses:  

• Heat stroke  

o If someone is showing signs of heat stroke call 911 immediately. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. Signs of heat stroke include a body temperature over 103°F; hot, red skin; a fast pulse; nausea; headache, dizziness or confusion; and possible unconsciousness. While waiting for help to arrive, move the person to a cool area and cool them down with cool wet towels or a cool bath. DON’T give them fluids.  

• Heat exhaustion  

o Look for: heavy sweating; cold, pale, and clammy skin; a fast or weak pulse; nausea or vomiting; muscle cramps; tiredness or weakness; dizziness; headache

o Move to a cool place, loosen your clothes, cool down with cool wet towels or a cool bath, and sip water. Get medical help if you are vomiting, your symptoms get worse, or your symptoms last longer than one hour.  

• Heat cramps  

o Look for: lots of sweating, muscle cramps or spasms.  

o Stop physical activity, move to a cool place, and drink water or a sports drink. Get medical help if cramps last longer than one hour, your symptoms get worse, you’re on a low-sodium diet, or you have heart problems.  

The above information is general guidance. When in doubt, move to a cooler place and get medical help right away.

Tips For Pet Parents:  

• Never leave your pet in your car or vehicle, even if the windows are open. 

• Don’t leave pets outside for long periods of time.  

• Provide plenty of fresh water and, if outside, leave the water in a shady area.  

• Don’t let dogs linger on hot asphalt.  

• Know the symptoms of overheating in pets, which include excessive panting or difficulty breathing, increased heart and respiratory rate, drooling, mild weakness, stupor, or collapse.   

• Animals with flat faces, like Pugs and Persian cats, are more prone to heat stroke. The

Please note that all city offices will be open regular hours on Friday, July 3rd as the Independence Day Holiday will be celebrated on Saturday. Street sweeping, and parking enforcement will be on its normal schedule on Friday but parking enforcement will be on a holiday scheduled on Saturday, July 4th. Additionally, trash and recycling collection will be on its regular day on Monday through Friday, the weeks of June 29th and July 6th. Finally, a reminder that residents of eligible households (6 units or less) wishing to dispose of a mattress or box spring need to purchase a $55 Disposal Sticker per item before scheduling the pickup by contacting 311.

The Water Department will be hydrant flushing on Monday (6/29) and Thursday (7/2) from 6 PM to 12 AM. The crews will be flushing the hydrants on the following streets:

Broadway (Lowden Ave to College Ave)

Bromfield Rd

Burnham St

College Ave (Professors Row to Powder House Blvd)

Dearborn Rd

Latin Way

Leonard St

Lower Campus Rd

Pearson Rd

Powder House Blvd (Powder House Sq to Hardan Rd)

Powder House Sq

Walker St

Warner St

Please note that adjacent streets to the flushing area may experience the same side effects to water quality and pressure as the flushing area. Please see attached and below for additional details.

Somerville Water and Sewer Department to Begin Its Annual Flushing Program

The City of Somerville’s annual Water System Flushing Program will begin the week of May 18 and conclude in late October. This annual program flushes pipes at high velocities to clean water mains and maintain the highest possible water quality.

Flushing will be done on Mondays and Thursdays between 6 p.m. and midnight to minimize disruptions to water service. In most cases, residents will not notice any changes to their water service. However, some homes may experience a temporary, slight drop in water pressure and/or discolored water. In these cases, though the water may be discolored, it is safe to drink. Until the water runs clear, it is advisable to avoid washing laundry, especially white fabrics. If any rust stains appear on wet laundry, it should not be dried, and residents can call 311 (or 617-666-3311 from cell phones or outside the city) for a free bottle of rust remover.

Residents will be notified via signage when their neighborhood will be affected by the Flushing Program. For more information, please contact the Water Department by email at water@somervillema.gov, or call 617-625-6600 ext. 5850.

Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should contact the ADA Coordinator in advance at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or ADA@somervillema.gov.

Somerville residents may drop off household hazardous waste on the second Saturday of each month, April through November, from 9 a.m. to noon at the DPW yard (1 Franey Rd.). New this year: weeknight drop-off events are scheduled on Thursday, April 23, and November 5, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Accepted materials include motor oil, aerosol paint, household cleaning chemicals, rechargeable batteries, and more. Proof of residency, such as a driver's license or utility bill, is required and must be presented at the guard shack. Each resident should bring no more than what can fit in a car trunk. All HHW must be properly contained and transported in cardboard boxes. For more information on what is accepted and how to prep materials, visit somervillema.gov/recycling.

Please note that yard waste collection will resume the week of April 13th. Yard waste collection will occur weekly through the week of May 4 then switch to the alternating week schedule. Yard waste may be put out on the scheduled day inside a barrel marked with a red “Yard waste only” sticker or in a paper yard waste bag. “Yard waste only” stickers may be picked up at the DPW, 1 Franey Rd or the City Hall Welcome Desk, 93 Highland Ave. 311 will mail out yard waste only stickers upon request.

Please note that street sweeping will resume on April 1st and continue through December 31st. We recommend checking the posted signage on the street for the street sweeping schedule to avoid parking tickets. Additionally, note that Yard waste collection will resume the week of April 13th. Yard waste will be collected 4 weeks in a row on your regular trash day than switches to the alternating week schedule.

After reviewing mattress recycling programs in 28 nearby communities of similar size, the Department of Public Works (DPW) is introducing a Mattress and Box Spring Recycling Fee Program starting February 1, 2026. This program will help offset rising disposal costs while creating a more consistent, fair, and sustainable system for residents. It will also help deter residents of neighboring communities from disposing of their mattresses improperly in Somerville to avoid their own community’s fees.

Under the new program, residents will be charged a $55 disposal fee per unit, allowing the city to recover a portion of actual costs while continuing to provide responsible recycling services.

The new fee program will go into effect on February 1, 2026. Starting on that date, residents of eligible households wishing to dispose of a mattress or box spring will need to purchase a Disposal Sticker before scheduling a mattress pickup and placing these items on the curb. Mattresses will be collected curbside one day after regular trash collection. For residents with Friday trash pickup, mattresses will also be collected on Friday. Mattresses and box springs are counted as separate items.

How to Recycle a Mattress or Box Spring via City Services:

First, confirm that you are eligible: Only residential households in buildings with 6 or fewer units with city-managed trash collection are eligible to have the City recycle their mattress or box spring. Pickup is also limited to two bulk items per week. Residents of buildings with 7 or more units using private trash services are not eligible.

Purchase a Disposal Sticker one of three ways:

Online: Purchase through the online payment portal on the City website at somervillema.gov/payonline.

Department of Public Works (DPW): Purchase in person at the DPW Offices at One Franey Road. Check, credit cards, and money orders are accepted. No cash.

City Hall: Purchase in person at the City Clerk’s Office in City Hall at 93 Highland Avenue. Cash, check, credit card, or money order are accepted.

Schedule your mattress pickup: Residents must contact 311 Constituent Services in advance to schedule a mattress and/or box spring pickup. Call 311 at 617-666-3311 or visit somervillema.gov/311 for more ways to contact 311.

Please note: Infested or soiled mattresses must be scheduled for special pickup. Contact 311 before purchasing a sticker.

For more information on mattress recycling and disposal, please visit the City website at somervillema.gov/mattressrecycling.