WPCA approves 10-year capital and financial plans, authorizes multiple design projects and funding policy

The Fairfield Water Pollution Control Authority on Feb. 19 approved a draft 10-year capital plan and a 10-year financial plan, adopted a proposed funding policy, and authorized engineering design work on several pump station and force-main replacement projects that together total millions of dollars.

The commission’s approval followed a lengthy discussion about project timing, escalation assumptions and how much of each project the town versus the WPCA will fund. The commission additionally voted to proceed with design services for the Mill River force main ($4,270,000), the Center Street pump station ($4,530,000) and the Center Street force main ($4,000,000); approved two phase-5 I&I (inflow and infiltration) rehabilitation contracts; and authorized the purchase of a new sewer-maintenance truck at $600,000 (to be financed from WPCA reserves unless the town elects to bond the cost).

The 10-year capital plan is presented as a flexible, living document that includes both projects already authorized (about $63,000,000) and projects not yet authorized. Commissioners and staff emphasized the estimates are preliminary, drawn from prior engineering reports (including a 2018 facilities plan, a 2024 equipment-condition assessment, and recent Phase 1 pump-station studies), and will be updated as design work produces refined cost judgments.

Commissioners pressed staff on escalators and the assumptions used for future-year dollar figures. Staff said the plan is expressed in current dollars and that escalation factors will be added as estimates are refined; staff also said the town’s capital-planning office uses escalators ranging from 5% to more than 20% a year depending on the project type. Staff said they will seek professional services — a cost-of-service/rate-study consultant — to validate assumptions and help set an appropriate rate path.

The funding policy the commission approved sets percent breakdowns to allocate costs between the town and WPCA for three classes of work: projects supporting commercial development and trunk-line expansion (50/50), plant and operational upgrades (WPCA lead), and routine maintenance (WPCA-funded). The policy also recommends a rate-stabilization fund and a minimum fund-balance threshold to protect annual rate increases. The Board of Finance will review the policy at its March 4 meeting.

Commissioners approved moving two phase-5 I&I contracts to award (manhole repairs and sewer lining) and set schedules to begin work in April with completion planned by the end of calendar 2025. The commission discussed bundling nearby pump-station projects when it can reduce contractor mobilization costs.

On financing the $600,000 truck, staff noted the vendor had held the quoted price and that the vehicle could be delivered within months. Town finance staff present recommended bonding larger durable equipment as a matter of practice because of the multi-year useful life and the town’s ability to borrow at relatively low rates (generally in the low-3% range for recent issues). The commission authorized the purchase; the motion specified the purchase from WPCA reserves but staff were directed to continue coordinating with town finance on bonding options and loan term (the draft was written for a 15-year term).

Votes at a glance - Approve WPCA 10-year capital plan: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve WPCA 10-year financial plan: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve WPCA proposed funding policy: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Proceed with design: Mill River Force Main — authorize total project cost $4,270,000 (design to be initiated FY26): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Proceed with design: Center Street Pump Station — authorize total project cost $4,530,000 (design to be initiated FY26): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Proceed with design: Center Street Force Main — authorize total project cost $4,000,000 (design to be initiated FY26; will include risk assessment): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous). - Phase 5 contracts (manhole repair and sewer lining): approved to proceed to award and scheduling; outcome: approved (motions carried). - Purchase capital equipment (vac-truck/sewer truck) $600,000: motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (unanimous).

Why it matters The packet of approvals establishes a multi-year schedule of major construction and design work that will shape Fairfield’s sewer infrastructure and user rates. Commissioners said they intend to revisit the plan annually as design and funding choices clarify costs and schedule, and as professional studies inform rate decisions.

What’s next Staff will solicit or finalize consultant support for the financial/rate study, proceed with design contracts as authorized, present bond/reserve options to the Board of Finance and the Board of Selectmen where required, and start phase-5 I&I construction in April. The Board of Finance review (and subsequent bonding steps) will determine timing and whether any of these costs are borrowed by the town or paid from WPCA funds.