Sewer manager warns of sludge buildup; Select Board to review past costs for future removal

Ed Tracey, Sewer Plant Manager, told the Select Board on July 27 that Lagoon #1 has accumulated sludge and that it has been "8 years since the last clean out," creating uncertainty about the timing and cost of the next removal.

Tracey said accurate cost estimates are difficult because lagoon shape causes stacking at the edges and measurement uncertainty; he described operational permit goals including reducing biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), removing total suspended solids and monitoring phosphorus, ammonia and summer e. coli. Board members, including Hans Tudhope, expressed concern about existing debt from prior sludge work and asked staff to consult past records and the prior payment breakdown to inform budgeting. The board did not authorize immediate spending but agreed to gather information before deciding on expenditures.