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PUTNAM — The $7.5 million plan to improve the Town of Putnam’s drinking water system is moving forward and various items have been completed to date, according to a he Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) report.
The WPCA contracted with BETA Group, Inc., of Lincoln, R.I., to accomplish the design services for cleaning and lining and installation of the town’s existing water mains.
Tasks accomplished to date by BETA Group include the following items: Completed scanning of water service, water gate valves and fire hydrant cards; completed land surveying for the water main installation sections of the project; soil borings are anticipated to be completed by Aug. 23; specifications for the project are being prepared and are approximately 20 percent complete; field surveying of affected water main areas is approximately 80 percent complete; a firm, Utilities Services Company, hired to inspect both the Richmond Road and Industrial Park Water Storage Tanks. Inspections of tanks to be completed by Aug. 26.
In order to modernize data system management, BETA group has completed scanning of all town-wide water service, water gate valves, fire hydrants and water blow-off cards.
WPCA Chairman James Shaw said the work completed to date will greatly assist the WPCA in the next major stage of the project, the actual relining and replacement of the existing water lines.
The work to be accomplished will be on the Putnam water system’s pipes that were installed before 1940.
The construction portion of the $7.5 million project will be funded by a low-interest loan and subsidy under the Connecticut Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, Connecticut Department of Public Health, totaling $6,712,000 loan portion and $187,864 subsidy portion. The state has also awarded the town $677,000 under the low-interest loan program for the project design work. Current loan interest rates under the state program range from 2.06 percent to 3.7 percent. The rate applicable to Putnam will be based on the financial and legal status of the Town.
“We still expect the design and engineering phase of the project to be completed sometime by the end of 2013,” said Shaw. “We hope to complete the actual drinking water system improvements over a two year period from 2014 and 2015.”
System improvements will also increase water pressure needed in case of any fire emergencies in the affected areas.
Shaw emphasized that this project will not increase the rates to the water system users because recently approved rate increases contemplated the possible future need to make improvements to the drinking water system.
Shaw added that after many years of deferring maintenance to the town’s water and sewer system, the Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority is committed to making improvements to the drinking water and sewer systems for the benefit of the ratepayers and users as evidenced by the recent increase in wells drilled, the rehabilitation of the sewer treatment plant and the improvements in the drinking water system lines.