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Council advances first reading of up to $11.15 million wastewater bond authorization
Summary
At first reading the council advanced Ordinance 2026-7 to authorize up to $11,150,000 in wastewater revenue bonds to fund plant upgrades and interceptor rehabilitation; staff detailed a breakdown of costs and said the town would cover the majority of treatment-plant upgrades.
The West Warwick Town Council advanced on first reading Ordinance 2026-7, authorizing design, construction and upgrades to the regional wastewater treatment facility and the issuance of wastewater-system revenue bonds and notes in an amount not to exceed $11,150,000.
Town staff described the proposed program as two parts: roughly $5.5 million for treatment-plant upgrades (UV replacement, SCADA upgrades, grit-collection improvements and lime-silo refurbishment) and about $1.3 million to rehabilitate the New London Turnpike interceptor. Council members noted $3.7 million had previously been authorized, and the current ordinance seeks the balance to complete the full scope.
"If you have the authorization to borrow, we're gonna do this project, and that will keep the structural integrity for the next 50 years on that interceptor," staff said during the presentation. The staff presentation also said the town’s share of the treatment upgrades was about 73% of that $5.5 million program.
Councilors asked about reimbursement and regional cost-sharing: staff said regional partners (primarily Coventry and West Greenwich) will pay their shares via quarterly or semiannual billing through the Rhode Island Clean Water financing process, while West Warwick users will cover the town's share as billed. The ordinance advanced on a voice vote at first reading; council will consider subsequent readings and final adoption in later proceedings.
Next steps: staff said authorization at this meeting allows the projects to move into procurement and scheduling; councilors asked staff to provide detailed cost and payback schedules at a future meeting.
