Three New Water Projects to Begin Work this Summer

West Street residents near the Albertini well property opposite the Forest Park subdivision will probably be seeing some impressive land clearing by late summer, as the water department's new treatment plant project breaks ground.

The treatment plant is the largest of three separate well property projects due to begin this year, and will cost about $6.7 million , funded through a state revolving fund loan.

Other additions to the town's water supply system include a new chemical feed storage facility and replacement of some water pumps at the Cate Springs well off Maple Street and two new water tanks at the Walsh well field off Gilbert Street. The projects will also incorporate renovations and additions to instrumentation and controls and other requirements of the state Department of Environmental Protection. The Walsh and Cate Springs improvements, handled together by one contractor, will cost a little under $5 million.

DPW director Lee Azinheria told selectmen recently the fact that the three projects could be submitted together was a great help in securing the state funding that will be needed.

The DPW has met with abutters near the Walsh well and Albertini wells, as they are located in residential neighborhoods, and have received the go-ahead for all three projects from the planning board and conservation commission, and the state.

"These are significant projects," Azinheira said.

He assured the board that the Albertini treatment plant, located off scenic West Street in the middle of a heavily wooded parcel, will be partially shielded from public view by trees left standing. The plant will be designed to remove iron and manganese from water delivered to it by four existing wells on either side.

Selectman Doug Annino was frank about his opinion of the building and its location.

"This will be ghastly," he said. "This is a big building in a very residential area. Does it have to be that tall?"

Consultants from Woodard and Curran indicated the green sand filters require that height to operate effectively.

Annino said the 10,000 square foot building, 80 feet by 124 feet, was bound to detract from the view residents across the street were accustomed to.

The designers had tried to set the building as far back as they could, Azinheria said, so that the facade would be screened by the tall pines that were left, but they were hampered by the downward tilt of the land towards Greenwood Lake. The building will be about 120 feet back from the property line.

"The trees are fairly good sized," he said. "If a hole develops we will add trees - it's a small cost."

Azinheira said the treatment plant is designed to have extra capacity for handling increased flow in the future.

Residents can expect to see construction begin at the Walsh and Cate Springs wells by June, and at the Albertini site by the fall. Bids for construction of the Albertini building will be opened and the firm selected in late April.

Bids for the other two have already been opened, and a firm has been chosen to do the job.