Milton water system in need of upgrades

It's no surprise an old town like Milton needs to upgrade its infrastructure.

More than a year's worth of mapping has revealed Milton needs a new drinking water source and could use a slew of other upgrades: a new water tower, upgraded water mains and looped connections within its existing water system.

“The needs are very real, and the approach has been very well thought out,” said Councilman Sam Garde, who also serves on the town's water committee.

If Milton could fund all the capital improvements outlined in a study recently presented by Pennoni Associates, it would cost the town nearly $3 million.

Instead, the town is exploring funding options for its top two projects as recommended by Pennoni engineer Dave Heatwole.

Town Manager Kristy Rogers was asked to apply for state loans to cover the cost of extending water mains near Wagamons Pond and installing a well and water treatment plant behind H.O. Brittingham Elementary School, at an estimated cost of $380,000 and $520,000, respectively. A test well has already been drilled behind the school on Mulberry Street, and officials expect results soon.

The water model developed by Pennoni also mapped all existing water system infrastructure, allowing engineers to evaluate distribution, water storage capacity and flow rates. Experts can now analyze how changes to the system would impact the town's ability to provide water to residents and businesses.

Heatwole said if the town's water treatment facility on Chandler Street went offline due to a serious storm or excessive flooding, the town could lose all ability to supply water. In the event of a serious fire, he said, existing water towers are at risk of depletion.

Rogers will apply for funds through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund by Monday, Jan. 1. If the state approves Milton's request, the town must hold a referendum asking residents to approve borrowing about $900,000 through low-interest state loans.

Those loans generally have a 2 percent interest rate, Rogers said. The town will not know how rates will be affected until officials finalize a funding source. If state funds are unavailable, the town could also turn to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development funding or bonds.

Officials agreed to keep reserve funds as a back up in case of emergencies instead of using savings to pay for the projects.

Emory West said he hopes a referendum won’t fail, like the town's last water-related referendum in 2012. That referendum would have allowed the town to borrow $3.45 million for a new water tower, treatment facility, wells, water mains and about an acre of land on Atlantic Street.

“The people of this town need to wake up before we have a catastrophe with our water,” he said.

Rogers said she expects an answer to the town's funding application by April at the earliest.