Water department gets $1.9 million state loan
By Caitlyn Kelleher Journal Staff Reporter

The town's sewer department received a $1.904 million low-interest state loan to improve the pump station at the bottom of Oakmont Drive and to construct a new pump station.

The pump station, located at the foot of the driveway to Oakmont Regional High School, is in need of repair, said Town Administrator Kevin Paicos. The pumps within the station are running at 90 percent efficiency nearly all the time because of the significantly increased amount of sewage running through the pipes.

"Engine pumps aren't made to operate at that level constantly," he said.

Voters will be asked to appropriate the money for the project in the upcoming year, said Paicos. The state has simply guaranteed the town a low-interest loan when they need it.

The loan will give the town significant savings in interest when they look to complete the project and pay off the bond over the next 20 years, he said.

The loan is part of a state program to help provide water that complies with federal and state drinking water requirements. The money comes from the Massachusetts Drinking Water State Revolving Fund Program, which is jointly administered by the Division on Municipal Services and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.

The reconstruction of that pump station will cost between $800,000 and $900,000, Paicos predicted. The other money would be used to build a second pump station, if the selectmen decide to continue to send the town's wastewater to Gardner.

Selectmen plan to discuss the wastewater contract with Gardner in upcoming meetings.

Winchendon also received a grant as part of the program. They received $3,000,916 to be used toward the Winchendon Springs sewer system expansion project.

"I am pleased to join Senator Stephen M. Brewer (DBarre) in recognizing Ashburnham and Winchendon on their respective (State Revolving Fund) awards. These latest awards reflect an ongoing partnership between the Commonwealth and its communities to improve life quality, and I am proud of the positive impact these awards will have in these towns," said Representative Robert Rice (D-Gardner) in a press release.

In 2006, the DWSRF program will administer more than $523 million in low interest loans to 80 Massachusetts communities, wastewater districts and water suppliers for 93 environmental infrastructure and planning improvement projects.