Wilmington Faces $850,000 Bill After Water Main Break

WILMINGTON, MA -- Wilmington selectmen said they may have to consider paying for repairs to a water main through increased water rates paid by residents or businesses, or by dipping into the town's free cash fund. The water main break, which town manager Jeffrey Hull called integral, burst during last month's stretch of sub-zero temperatures. The line that broke runs over Interstate 93 between Woburn and Park Streets and is expected to cost $850,000 to replace.

The break has not impacted water pressure, according to the Lowell Sun, which first reported this story. Board of Selectmen Chairman Michael Champoux said he had conversations with town officials and learned that Wilmington could not have anticipated or prevented the water main break.

"You can just never predict when these kinds of things will happen," Champoux said. "To me it's similar to being a homeowner. We all have to, as homeowners, plan for the worst, maintain our homes and keep our properties up to date so we don't have tragedy -- but on occasion, tragedy happens."

The finance committee is scheduled to discuss plans to pay for the repairs at its meeting Tuesday night. Selectmen signaled the repairs are likely to be paid for through a warrant at the May 5 town meeting asking the meeting to approve transferring the money from the 2019 budget. The board also did not rule out paying for the repairs through water rates collected from residents and businesses, which would presumably involve a rate hike.

For more on this story, see the Lowell Sun. Subscribe to Wilmington Patch for more local news and real-time alerts.

Patch file photo of Wilmington Board of Selectmen Chairman Michael Champoux.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).