Water Rates to Rise 4% Annually Over Five Years for Plant Replacement
Key Points
- Water rates set to increase by 4% annually for the next five years
- Rate hikes will fund an $86 million generational water infrastructure overhaul
- New treatment plant designed to address PFAS and modern water quality standards
Town Meeting approved a new five-year water rate structure under Article 15, designed to fund a massive $86 million overhaul of the town’s water infrastructure. The plan implements an approximately 4% annual increase in water rates to create a predictable funding path for a new treatment plant.
Water Commission Chair Chris Pratt explained that the 50-year-old Lily Pond plant is nearing the end of its life and was not designed to treat modern contaminants like PFAS. We have an undersized plant currently and we have a very difficult raw water source to treat,
Pratt said. He noted that operating costs—including chemicals, lab testing, and utilities—are rising by roughly 4.4% annually. Responding to resident concerns about water quality, Pratt stated the new facility is being specifically engineered to solve existing quality issues and meet new state standards.
Motion: To approve the water rate structure.
Vote: Passed Unanimously