SOUTHWICK – The Board of Selectmen approved moving forward with an option for the schools to connect to the town sewer line last night.
Before connecting, the town has to complete its parallel sewer interceptor project – for which the board also approved a bid from Mass-West last night.
Superintendent Dr. John Barry said last week that the town needed to decide what direction it would take before the school department could move forward on its campus-wide renovation project.
Legally, the schools need to hook-up to the sewer system or ultimately build a standalone wastewater treatment plant on-site, which Barry said is not an option.
Barry said the department’s current septic system has been inspected, passed and is functioning for the schools’ needs. He added that while the school department does want to hook up to the town’s sewer system, he understands it will take time.
“We have to be fair and considerate with the pace of the town,” said Barry. “We’d like to hook up to it in a reasonable time frame.”
Barry and the School Building Committee were awaiting the town’s decision on how the parallel sewer interceptor would be laid out and its options for connecting to it.
Representatives from Tighe & Bond met with Department of Public Works (DPW) Director Jeffrey Neece and the board last night and presented two options, known as Alternative One and Alternative Two.
Jeremy Cigal of Tighe& Bond said there were pros and cons to both options.
“Alternative Two doesn’t allow for phasing,” said Cigal. “It’s a lot of gravity piping that flows into a new pump station.”
Alternative One can be phased in, which can lessen the cost burden, but Neece said both options cost about the same.
“It’s about $70,000-$80,000,” he said.
Neece said Alternative Two would use pipes going downhill to a new pumping station on Powder Mill Road, eliminating the need for additional grinder pumps.
“We won’t need a grinder pump, which costs money to maintain. Why not use gravity?” said Neece. “Gravity is free.”
That option would also take offline the pumping station at Depot Street and Powder Mill Road, which Neece said often has maintenance problems.
“I’m all for fewer pump stations,” said Board Chairman Arthur Pinell.
Alternative One would require a new pumping station on the school campus by the elementary school and the town would still need the station at Depot and Powder Mill.
Selectman Russell Fox wanted to make sure the option would be sufficient for all three schools on the campus and asked if residents in the area could also connect to the sewer. He also asked if the Recreation Center could tie-in.
“I’m not sure I can answer that right now,” Neece said of the Recreation Center hook-up after assuring Fox the selected option would work for schools and some residents. “It’s a capacity issue, but we could design for that.”
Neece and Tighe & Bond recommended Alternative Two, which was unanimously approved by the Board of Selectmen. Neece said he would contact Barry to let him know the approved option so the school department could move ahead.
