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Select Board directs DPW to pursue East Street pump‑station site amid debate over capacity, costs and betterments
Summary
After an extended technical presentation and public discussion, the Select Board directed DPW to pursue the existing East Street/348 Blackstone Street site for a replacement booster pump station. Engineers described pump sizing, life‑cycle estimates and downstream piping needs; board members requested cost, operational‑cost estimates and betterment‑fee options for developers and mandatory hookups.
The Select Board voted on Sept. 22 to direct the DPW to pursue the existing East Street pump‑station location (near 348 Blackstone St.) as the preferred site for a required booster station replacement and upgrade.
DPW staff and consulting engineers reviewed the project scope and technical findings. Engineers said the proposed station design includes three 100‑GPM pumps (two operating, one standby) to provide baseline service and two 750‑GPM pumps sized to meet fire‑flow needs; they estimated core pump economic life at roughly 25 years. The presentation projected future growth to 2040 and identified suction‑side piping and hydraulic improvements needed to deliver volume and pressure to downstream neighborhoods.
Board members raised multiple non‑technical issues: the operational (O&M) cost delta between the existing station and the upgraded design, the need to map existing hydrants (and where new hydrants or mains would be required), and how to allocate costs. Several members argued that the portion of the project replacing worn infrastructure should be funded from the water enterprise fund while incremental capacity intended to serve new development should be financed as betterment fees or developer contributions. The board discussed mandatory hookup policies for areas in a no‑blast/no‑drill zone and potential grandfathering rules for existing well users.
The board directed DPW to refine two items for the next meeting: (1) confirm whether a 25‑year design life will accommodate projected growth scenarios beyond 2040 and provide alternative sizing projections, and (2) provide a ballpark estimate of incremental annual operational costs (energy and maintenance) for the upgraded station versus current O&M. The board also asked staff to supply a hydrant map for the downstream streets and to present options on betterment fee structures and mandatory‑connection policy options.
Vote: motion to direct DPW to pursue the existing site (348 East Street / Blackstone Street) carried on a majority vote.
