The town is getting closer to being able to extend its sewer lines with plans for a parallel interceptor pipe into Westfield.
The town currently connects to Westfield via that city’s pipes and needs to connect directly to the system with its own pipes. Doing so will allow the town to extend the sewer system to Phase II.
The matter was discussed during this week’s Board of Selectmen meeting.
Ron Michalsky, of Tighe and Bond, said the town has two funding options for the $2.1 million project.
“On May 1, Southwick was notified it was on the list to receive a low-interest (two percent) loan from the Department of Environmental protection (DEP).” Michalsky said. “The Rural Development is offering a grant of $621,000 and a $1.4 million loan at 2.75 percent.”
Gerald Patria of the Southwick Sewer Implementation Committee said the committee reviewed both funding options.
“After looking at this, we agree that the Rural Development is the best option,” Patria said. “Rural Development is spread over a 40-year period, and even though the other option is only two percent, it’s over 20 years and would end up costing more. And, there’s no grant associated with that.”
Selectman Russell Fox said it is important to stress to residents that the project is needed in order to begin Phase II, which would bring sewers to the north and west sides of North Pond and nearby areas down to Lakewood Village, Powdermill Road, Fernwood, Birchwood, Pineywood areas, the school campus, and portions of Feeding Hills Road, Hudson Drive and Gargon Terrace, Congamond Road and the area of College Highway.
“Without this, there is no Phase II project,” said Fox.
Select Board Chairman Arthur Pinell said that it often is all about the money and residents need to understand that while the town will have to bond for much of the project, “it’s the future users that will pay for the project.”
Michalsky also reminded the board that the City of Westfield wants Southwick in its own pipes because it is taxing on their pipes.
“The City of Westfield can tell you to get your stuff out of their pipes, because it’s theirs and you are just using it,” said Michalsky.
Westfield Engineer Mark Cressotti said at the time Southwick began bringing sewers to the town it entered an agreement with Westfield to discharge a certain amount from Southwick’s pipe into Westfield’s.
“It is a pre-existing 12-inch sewer main in the area along Southwick Road from the Southwick line to Little River,” Cressotti said. “(The pipe) was underutilized at the time Southwick was looking to initiate sewers in their community.”
Cressotti said that is no longer the case and Westfield can use the pipe for its own purposes. Cressotti also said that Southwick’s expanded sewer system would be beyond the amount of discharge the communities agreed to and Southwick needs to connect directly to the sewer treatment facility.
The board approved seeking funds from the Rural Development, which includes a 30-percent grant and 70-percent low-interest loan. An appropriation of funds will come before Town Meeting this fall. Michalsky said construction could begin as early as next spring.
