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Commission approves $4.2 million loan order for water treatment plant improvements
Summary
The commission approved a $4.2 million loan authorization for multiple water system upgrades at the treatment plant, including programmable logic controller replacement and roof work.
The Fall River City Water and Sewer Commission unanimously approved a loan order authorizing $4,200,000 for Water System Improvements (Phase 23), to be repaid over 20 years.
Commission staff described two primary components of the authorization: replacement of the treatment plant’s programmable logic controller (PLC) — described as the plant’s “nervous system” — and replacement of roofs over the chemical room and filter room. Staff said the existing PLC was installed around 2005 and is effectively a 20-year-old computer running continuously.
Discussing funding, staff said the commission does not expect to receive State Revolving Fund (SRF) assistance for this work because SRF priorities currently focus on PFAS and lead service projects and recent federal SRF funding cuts. The commission indicated the city would likely go to the market for bonding; staff estimated market rates (not SRF rates) and said the city’s credit rating allows bonding through the state’s MFOB bond issuer to secure competitive rates.
The chair said the packet will include a document showing the impact to customer rates; staff noted the initial rate impact estimate in the packet as $0.26 per billing period for next year.
The commission approved the loan order; staff will forward the loan order to the mayor, who will transmit it to the city council for final action.
