Wareham approves $26 million borrowing to replace deteriorating Narrows force main

Wareham voters on April 27 authorized the town to borrow up to $26 million to build a new 18‑inch force main from the Narrows pump station to the Water Pollution Control Facility, redirect flows and provide flexibility for future sewer extensions, officials said.

The three‑phase plan presented by the town’s water pollution control director and consulting engineers calls for a new plastic force main along Sandwich Road (phase one), re-routing of local pump stations and reconnections (phase two), and gravity/low‑pressure sewer work to remove flows from the existing cast‑iron main (phase three). "We have to fix the force main period," Water Pollution Control Facility Director Scott Crazel said, arguing proactive replacement is cheaper and less disruptive than emergency repairs.

Consulting engineer John Pototts of Weston & Sampson said the existing 18‑inch cast‑iron force main is more than 50 years old and has experienced "wall thickness losses of up to 48% in some spots," which increases the risk of a major failure. He and other presenters described a total cost of $26 million broken into an estimated $16.5 million for phase one, $3.5 million for phase two and $6 million for phase three. Presenters said completing all phases together improves economies of scale and increases eligibility for low‑cost or zero‑percent financing through the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust if the project qualifies for nutrient‑removal funding.

Engineers and the WPCF director cautioned that the project is likely to require some contribution from ratepayers. Presentation estimates gave a broad range of roughly $125 to $200 annually per sewer user depending on final bids, grant awards and loan forgiveness; town officials said the final user cost will be determined after bids and financing are secured. "We can't say it with a straight face it's not going to cost anybody anything," an engineer said, adding grant and forgiveness programs are uncertain but important to reducing the local share.

Residents asked about alternatives, reuse of the old force main for a future outfall, microplastics and PFAS presence in effluent, and timing. The WPCF director said the plant performs well on nitrogen removal and that the proposed route to a deeper, faster moving outfall channel is preferable to existing shallower discharge locations. Several residents and the presenters discussed potential grant sources and illustrated prior successful forgiveness awards on previous projects.

The borrowing article—framed under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 44 with authority to borrow under and to seek loans and financing agreements with the Massachusetts Clean Water Trust (chapter 29C)—required a two‑thirds vote. After a motion to move the previous question, the moderator declared that the two‑thirds voice vote carried and the article passed.

Next steps: town officials said they will pursue SRF applications, finalize design and bid documents, and return to project implementation and financing once funding details are confirmed.