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Milton committee begins discussion of Federal Street water projects

New well and treatment center proposed for 4-acre parcel
October 19, 2021

Milton has made a concerted effort over the last five years to upgrade its water infrastructure, and the next project on the docket appears to be a new well and treatment plant on town-owned land on Federal Street.

The town purchased the 4-acre parcel at 614 Federal St. in December 2019 for $425,000 with the intention of using it for water infrastructure, including a new well and treatment facility, and possibly a new water tower. The property is adjacent to the Rails to Trails extension. 

The town’s water committee met Sept. 8 to begin discussions over building a new well and treatment plant. 

One of the committee’s considerations was whether to build the well and treatment plant at all, since there is the possibility that a new well and plant could be built for the proposed Granary at Draper Farms development on nearby Sand Hill Road. Committee members raised questions about the town moving forward with another well in generally the same area. Part of the consideration, too, is that the Granary project, still in the approval process, is not expected to even begin construction until late 2022 or early 2023, and is proposed for a 20-year build-out.

Councilman Sam Garde said, “I think we should build a well out there under any circumstances. Move forward with a new well regardless if we have a new well installed for us at the Granary, if the Granary is annexed and approved. That’s a long way off.”

Public Works Director Greg Wingo said a new well would cost an estimated $116,000 to $120,000. He said prices on a new treatment plant and tower have not come in yet. The town recently completed work on a new well and treatment plant in Shipbuilder’s Village at a cost of $475,000 for both projects. That price was higher than the town anticipated, and Wingo told the committee they shouldn’t make it a base for what a new well and plant on Federal Street might cost, because prices have gone even higher.

Committee Chair Jack Bushey and Garde said the town had funds on hand to do the well right now, but Wingo estimated that a new treatment plant would cost around $500,000, meaning the town would have to look elsewhere for funding. Bushey said the town could use federal funds received from the American Rescue Plan Act toward the project. 

Committee member P.D. Comenisch agreed that the town should put in a new well, given all the development going on around town, including a new phase of Cannery Village, the Granary and the Cypress Grove project on Route 16. 

“We would be remiss if we didn’t put in a new well,” he said. 

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