Putnam

prepares for

water line

revamp

PUTNAM — A major step was taken last week as the Putnam Water Pollution Control Authority (WPCA) put out to bid Contract I of the Water Line Replacement and Rehabilitation Project.  Bids received will be opened by the WPCA on Nov, 4.

“This is a huge first step in the WPCA’s long-term plans to replace or reline most the over 100-year-old water lines in the Town,” said WPCA Chairman James Shaw.  “This is just the starting point of an eventual overall project to reline or replace almost 55,000 linear feet (LF).”

Contract I calls for 8,800 LF of cleaning and cement lining of 6-12 inch water lines, installation of 6,130 LF of new 8- and 16-inch water lines, replacement of approximately 2,370 LF of water service pipe, and replacement and installation of approximately 21 fire hydrants.  All existing water services will be re-laid with new copper water service pipe from the existing water line to the property line.

Work under this contract will begin in spring 2015 and be completed by November 2015.

The areas covered by Contract I include: Whittemore Avenue (from Mechanics to Groveland Avenue), Bates Avenue (from Dewey Street to the end), Dewey Street (from Bates Avenue to Thompson Avenue), Thompson Avenue (from Knollwood Condominiums to end), Groveland Avenue (from Whittemore Avenue to Overlook Drive), School Street (from Front Street to Grove Street), Wilkinson Street (from Grove Street to Charles Street), Bellevue Street (from Wilkinson Street to Prospect Street), Prospect Street (from Bellevue Street to an existing water easement), Oak Street (from School Street to Wilkinson Street), Franklin Street (from School Street to Wilkinson Street), Charles Street (from Letters Street to end), Genevieve Street (from Letters Street to Prospect Street).

Shaw said that the entire project will remedy replacing old pipes and pipe diameters that have been narrowed due to deposits, undersized water lines, dead-ended water mains and inoperable fire hydrants.  

“As an authority, we seek to improve the quality of water, including elimination of foul odors and tastes and discolored water,” he added. “Ability to meet fire flow requirements is another important consideration to be corrected by this project.”

Contract I costs including relining, replacement, equipment replacement and engineering total $3.8 million.  Funding source for this project is a combination of town funds, and state (Clean Water Fund) and federal (USDA) grants and/or loans.

The entire project costs are $15.495 million ($4.98 million state and federal grants, $10.515 million state and federal loans and town borrowing). 

Contract II will cover an additional 40,000 LF of water line cleaning and relining and replacement.

Contract III will included improvements to the town’s Richmond Hill water tank.

All costs associated with project borrowing will be covered by the recent rate hikes established on all users of the system.

“Long-time problems associated with our water system will finally be remedied by this major infrastructure improvement project,” Shaw said.  “We’re taking the necessary steps to improve water quality and fire-fighting pressure.”