Fall River sewer commission moves to open talks on regional treatment with Somerset

At its Nov. 6 meeting, the Corridor Sewell Commission discussed formal outreach to the Town of Somerset about interconnecting wastewater systems, with staff recommending next steps to explore either a regional sewer district or an inter‑municipal customer agreement.

Paul Froelen, a staff member who led the presentation, told the commission that Somerset faces a permit-driven upgrade and that Fall River already accepts wastewater from several neighboring communities. Froelen said two principal pathways exist: creating a self-governing regional district (typically by a special act of the state legislature), or treating Somerset as an intermunicipal customer under a municipal agreement. "It's all about economy of scale," Froelen said. "We're talking about being able to serve a greater population, with essentially less of a burden." (Staff…