The Board of Public Works hosted another forum on the proposed $38.6 million drinking water supply project on April 7, outlining a dual-source system combining a new treatment facility at Happy Hollow wells and a connection to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority. Construction funding is expected to be sought at the May 4 Annual Town Meeting.
Public Works Director Tom Holder said the proposal follows more than four years of analysis and design work and is intended to address declining well capacity, aging infrastructure and regulatory requirements tied to PFAS contamination. Kirsten Ryan of Kleinfelder engineering consultants said three of the town’s four water sources are operating at between one-third and one-half of their intended capacity. Those deficiencies leave the system unable to meet peak summer demand and vulnerable if any single source goes offline.
Ryan said the system has already relied on an emergency MWRA connection installed in 2024, which required activation for more than 50 days last summer and additional periods since. Each activation requires state approval and carries escalating costs, as the connection is not designed for permanent use.
The project is driven in part by PFAS contamination, which exceeds the state’s current 20 parts per trillion standard at one source and approaches or exceeds future federal limits at multiple sources. Ryan said all four wells would require treatment to comply with federal regulations taking effect in 2029, but site constraints prevent construction of treatment facilities at three of the locations.
Under the proposed plan, the town would construct a permanent treatment plant at the Happy Hollow wells site, capable of producing approximately 1.35 million gallons per day, and install a new MWRA interconnection with a 20-inch transmission main running under the Hultman aqueduct from Framingham and a pump station. The remaining wells would be decommissioned once the system is operational.
Holder said the dual-source approach is required under the state’s interbasin transfer law, which mandates continued use of feasible local water sources. He added that the system would provide redundancy, allowing either the local supply or MWRA connection to meet demand independently during outages.
The estimated $38.6 million project cost reflects construction expenses and contingencies but excludes long-term borrowing costs. Financial modeling presented by consultant Matthew Abrahams indicated that while a full MWRA supply option would require lower initial capital investment, the dual-source system becomes more cost-effective over time due to the higher operating cost of MWRA water. The dual source system cost drop will start around year thirteen.
Officials said the town’s application for a State Revolving Fund loan was unsuccessful, despite expectations that PFAS-related projects would receive priority scoring. Ryan said the project ranked too low to receive funding, and recent changes to the program eliminated 0% interest financing for PFAS projects.
The town has since submitted a $4 million congressional funding request and is pursuing additional funding sources, including potential settlement funds related to PFAS contamination, according to Select Board member Carol Martin.
Abrahams’ analysis estimated the project would increase annual water costs for the average residential user from approximately $900 to about $1,200, based on usage of 7,200 cubic feet per year, representing an increase of roughly $312 annually.
Residents raised questions about long-term demand, system redundancy and project costs. Paul Clapper of Pelham Island Road asked whether concentrating withdrawals at Happy Hollow would strain the aquifer. Board members and consultants said the wellfield is permitted and designed to support projected withdrawals, with MWRA water supplementing peak demand.
Elizabeth Carter of Sherman’s Bridge Road questioned why the town would retain its most contaminated source. Holder said Happy Hollow is the only site with sufficient land to construct PFAS treatment infrastructure and bring the water into compliance.
Residents also raised concerns about water affordability and future demand, while officials noted that usage is regulated under the town’s state water management permit and subject to tiered pricing intended to limit high consumption.
Holder said the project timeline anticipates design completion in 2026, construction beginning in 2027 and full system operation by late summer 2029. He said failure to approve the project could result in the town being unable to maintain required water pressure or meet firefighting needs as existing infrastructure continues to deteriorate.
